Kolberg scored nine unanswered runs en route to a 9-1 win over Institute on opening day on Sunday.

The Cubs struck first when Arthur Hocevar drove in Jared Pflieger on a groundout to make it 1-0. The Braves tallied single runs in the first, second, and third innings before collecting five runs in the fourth inning. That frame was highlighted by RBI hits from Nick LeCaptain and Tyler Neinas. A run-scoring single from Devin Schinktgen provided the Braves an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth ahead of nerve wracking top of the ninth that saw the Cubs draw three walks, but unable to score a run.

Neinas led the Braves with two hits and three RBI while Schinktgen (3), Charlie Neinas (1), and LeCaptain (1) recorded RBI as well. Trevor Reinhardt earned the win with five strikeouts and no hits or runs allowed across two innings.

For the Cubs, Sam Zirbel and Robbie Pollman recorded the lone hits to go along with Hocevar's RBI. Nelson Demmin was the pitcher of record for the Cubs, allowing seven runs (7 ER) on four hits with two strike outs across 3.1 innings.