1 Down, 17 To Go

The season opened well for the Rez Life Warriors last Thursday night. The team started its season with a 24-5 shellacking of Immanuel Lutheran. Last year the two teams split contests so it was expected to be a bit more competitive than it was.

Rez Life newcomers had a very good start to the year with Brendan Finn going 4-4 with 4 runs and 3 rbi and Jamy Antoine and Jared Valle adding 3 hits between them.

However, it was a long-time team member that captured the first Player of the Game honor with a 3-3 performance including 2 runs, 3 rbi and 2 hits with runners in scoring position. Matt Shuster earns his first honor of the year by delivering a two-out two-run single that gave Rez Life the lead for good in the top of the second inning.

The team opened the season wtih a single from AJ Larson. After a force-out, Finn doubled home Austin Colby to start the scoring. Chris Burr then singled to score Finn and stake the Warriors to an early 2-0 edge.

In the bottom half of the first, Immanuel answered with two runs of its own, taking advantage of a Warrior miscue. But, Shuster's big two-out hit pushed Rez back on top in the second inning, scoring Antoine and Jon Engbrecht, reaching on a walk and single respectively.

The defense held fast in the bottom of the second, using a double-play to keep Immanuel scoreless, and the Warriors looked to increase their lead in the top of the third. Four singles and a double helped plate five runs, giving the team a 9-2 advantage going into the bottom of the third. AJ started things with a double and came home on Finn's rbi single. Burr singled to put runners at first and second and after the second out, Nick Larson walked to load the bases for Lee Valle. Lee had a tough first at bat and was looking to redeem himself with the bases loaded. He came through lacing a single off the first baseman and legging out the infield hit scoring one run. Jeff Johnson then hit a towering pop-up behind second base that the fielder couldn't handle, allowing two more runs to score. Antoine singled to plate Lee and cap the inning's scoring.

Immanuel smoked the ball pretty well in the third inning, scoring three runs on four hits. That made the score 9-5 going into the fourth. Here is where the Warriors turned it up a notch.

Shuster singled and moved to second on Jared's first career hit. AJ singled to load the bases for last year's MVP, Colby who nearly hit into a double-play, smoking a grounder at the third baseman who stepped on third for one out but was unable to turn two. Finn doubled to score the runner from second and then Burr lined a two-rbi single plating Finn and Colby. A fielder's choice made the second out but Nick wasn't through yet. He ripped a deep drive to dead center that landed on the warning track. He was able to come all the way around to score on the play, for the season's first homerun.

The six-spot gave the team a comfortable 15-5 lead after three and a half innings. Immanuel was a bit shocked and didn't manage much in the bottom of the fourth, going down without scoring.

In the top of the fifth, the Warriors just had fun and batted around while scoring nine times. Antoine singled and moved to second on Jon's walk. Shuster had his third single and after an out, AJ shot his fourth hit to right for an rbi single. Colby then delivered a laser beam to right which bounced high and allowed him to trot all the way home, while plating AJ and Shuster before him. Finn started things again with a single and Burr followed suit with his fourth hit. Eric Johnson got in on the fun with a single scoring Finn. After the second out, Lee drilled a ball to right for a triple plating two. Jeff singled to score Lee and end the scoring at 24.

Immanuel went down quietly in the bottom half, stranding two runners and ending the game after five innings.

The team banged out 25 hits and drew 4 walks in the opener, even with two of last year's top hitters going a combined 2-8. Finn, Burr, and AJ all had four hits while Shuster had a perfect 3-3 day as well.

The Warriors now take on long-time rival Life Church this Thursday at 8:50 on field #3. These two teams have played against each other several times the past 5 years and Thursday's game should be a fun one.