Cubs Pitcher’s Play Wins Hometown of Cascade, IA Free Appetizers
Chicago Cubs pitcher Colin Rea has been a hero of Cascade, IA for years. The Cascade native got another opportunity to show his hometown some love and did just that when he faced Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras at the top of the fifth inning on Wednesday, August 20th. It was a matchup of two of the best teams in baseball.
Back in Rea's hometown, dozens gathered at The Corner Taproom to watch the Cubs-Brewers matchup in support of the veteran pitcher, who is now in his eighth season in professional baseball. More than the game, there was free food on the line, and only Rea could make the latter happen for the folks who showed up and showed out at a popular Cascade eatery.
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Rea's first pitch to Contreras resulted in a strike. That prompted Cubs TV play-by-play broadcaster Jon "Boog" Sciambi to make a bet with Cubs color commentator Jim Deshaies:
How about this, if [Contreras] hits a ground ball to short to start the 6-4-3, will you buy mozzarella sticks for everybody at The Corner Taproom? - Jon "Boog" Sciambi, per The Des Moines Register
Deshaies immediately agreed. Sciambi also elected to cover half the cost. How about that? Baseball announcers elevating the stakes in a way that drew on a pitcher's hometown, and also felt the patrons at The Corner Taproom feel seen? Moreover, this proposition definitely got them to lean forward in their stools and chairs.
On Rea's fourth pitch (a 2-1 count), Contreras grounded a ball to the shortstop, which was then tossed to second base by Cubs player Dansby Swanson. Nico Hoerner was ready, catching the ball and hurling it to first. Play successful. Contreras was beat for the 6-4-3 double play.
Everyone at The Corner Taproom got mozzarella sticks as a result. The Cascade restaurant followed suited by serving up dozens of orders of "cheese bread," as it's known, which is supplied by Happy Joe's Pizza, which connected to The Corner Taproom.
The Des Moines Register caught up with Corner Taproom owner Zach Nothdorf, who got a phone call from someone from the Cubs organization to confirm that they would foot the bill for the appetizers served that evening:
Someone from the Cubs literally called me from the stands and said, 'Looks like we owe you some mozzarella sticks. I thought it was some prank initially - Zach Nothdorf, per The Des Moines Register
Nothdorf said that between 50 and 60 people got cheese bread that Wednesday night, and while he didn't confirm how much money the Cubs sent him, he did say the sum was "significant." You love to see it.
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Read more about Colin Rea being a hero for Cascade in more ways than one on The Des Moines Register's website. Check out The Corner Taproom in Cascade on Facebook too!
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Gallery Credit: Seth Berkman
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