Olympian Brett Roneberg showed the benefits of experience at Saturday's Inter City Club Baseball Challenge, steering Cubs to a 12-9 victory over Marlins.
Having scored a centre field home run early in the encounter, Roneberg followed up by closing out the game on the mound, pitching his Cairns-based side to a hard-fought win against their Townsville rivals.

Cubs began the afternoon by sprinting to a 5-2 lead, a scenario that could have been even more favourable to the visitors had they positioned players on base when Roneberg cleared the Jabiru Park fence.

To their credit Marlins fought back in the fourth and fifth innings, levelling at 8-all with four innings left to play.

When starting pitcher Mark Vickers tired in the sixth, walking four batters, Marlins substituted Malcolm Hamilton in his place.
However, applied pressure from Cubs' batters brought nervous throws from the field and saw the number of Marlin errors rise to a costly seven.

In comparison Cubs maintained their composure down the stretch, using Roneberg as relief pitcher and maintaining their enthusiasm.
Over the final four innings Roneberg conceded just one run, while chalking up 11 strike-outs next to his name.

Cubs afternoon was momentarily spoiled when catcher Matt Bolton was ejected by officials for unsportsmanlike conduct.