SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Four Winds Field traded Cubbie blue for a sea of Irish green Thursday night as more than 10,000 fans packed the ballpark for the South Bend Cubs’ annual Notre Dame Staff Appreciation Night. A pregame prayer honored Notre Dame employees and their families, while fans dressed in Irish green filled the stands alongside traditional Cubs colors, highlighting the close connection between the university and the South Bend Cubs. “What a perfect summer night to be celebrating the South Bend Cubs and Notre Dame. You are as much a part of the Notre Dame family as anyone.”