Living in Edwardsville, Ill., 30 minutes from the heart of Cardinal Nation, it is hard to find anything but hatred toward the Chicago Cubs. But on Nov. 2, history was made; and rivalries were left in the shadows for the evening.

On this night, the Cubs prevailed in the seventh and final game of the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. This was the first time the Cubs had won the World Series Champion title in 108 years, and they were hungry to reclaim it.

With a “tug-of-war” scoring over the first six games, fans of both teams had their nerves on edge and their jerseys on their backs.

When Michael Picchiotti, lifelong Cubs fan and EHS senior, found out that the series would continue to the seventh game, he said he bought his ticket and left for Cleveland the next morning.

Many Cubs fans felt the same elation of team spirit and, unexpectedly, many Cardinals fans did as well.

“I love watching baseball. Seeing a team have a chance to win the World Series after more than 100 years of losing is exciting to any baseball fan,” senior and Cardinals fan Jordan Garella said.

And according to Picchiotti, over 100 years led up to an unforgettable seventh game..

The Chicago Tribune’s play-by-play of the seventh game said the Cubs were feeling pretty great about their two point lead until the eighth inning when the Indians got a “stunning RBI double and a two-run homer by Rajai Davis” and the teams tied 6-6 at the end of the eighth.

“When the Indians tied it up I was pretty deflated,” Picchiotti said. “A lot of Cubs fans were sad too but when we started to rally, everyone got hyped up again.”

And that hype was just what the Cubs needed.

For the fifth time in World Series history, the game seven went into extra innings and for the first time, a rain delay was put in place before the 10th inning started. The Cubs persevered through all obstacles and were able to reclaim their century-old title with a win of 8-7 at the end of the 10th inning.

And while the Cubs rejoiced, Cardinals fans were able to join along.

“Of course I would’ve preferred the Cardinals to go to the World Series but they lost and I don’t think cheering on a different team in postseason makes me any less of a Cardinals fan,” Garella said. “But both teams wanted the win so bad that it made it be one of the best game sevens I have ever seen.”

But for Picchiotti, “the best” couldn’t come close to describe what he experienced on that historic night.

“It meant so much to so many people…all of the Cubs fans migrated to the field and sat around the edges. Everyone was so happy,” he said. “It was one of the best feelings in the world.”