Great Start to Season

The Resurrection Life Warriors opened up the season in convincing fashion, trouncing Pax Christi 18-2 after six innings. The Warriors lived up to pre-season expectations and dominated from start to finish.

A unanimous pre-season selection as League Champions, Rez Life looked to make a statement in game one and it did. Rez took it to Pax after dropping a pair of three-run games last year. The bats banged out 23 hits and reached base 25 times en route to scoring 18 runs.

With a 30 mph wind gusting in from center, the offense still managed seven extra base hits, including an impressive three-run homer from eventual Player of the Game Eric Johnson.

Leading off the season, Jason Merritt hit a sharp grounder up the middle that the shortstop was able to stab but not collect and throw soon enough to get Jason at first. Chris Wold followed with a liner to right-center to put runners at first and second with no outs. Jeff Tenney just missed one, lifting a high wind-blown flyball to right which allowed Jason to tag and advance to third. With one out, Eric's impressive feat took center stage. He launched his first pitch of the season just over the left-field fence for a three-run blast. Jeff Johnson roped one for a single but Jamy Antoine rolled into a forceout and Andy Briggs' flyball fell victim to the wind for the third out.

The outstanding 2008 defense seems to be in tact as the 2009 version quickly flexed its muscles. After a lead-off single for Pax, a grounder to Andy at short was gobbled up, flipped to Eric at second, and turned into a double play. A lineout to Andy ended Pax's first inning.

In the top of the second, Jonathan Engbrecht started his season with a clean hit to left. After Adam Hey flew out, Austin Colby rolled one into right field out of the ten-hole. With two on, Jason flew out but Chris lined a single to score Jonathan. Another flyout stranded the other two baserunners.

Pax wasted a lead-off double in the bottom of the second, with the Warrior middle infield turning another doubleplay after a two-on, no-out strikeout from Chris.

Rez didn't add anything in the third inning, leaving Eric's lead-off single on base. Pax went down in order, with two grounders and a liner right back to Chris.

The Warriors turned on their bats in the top of the fourth, putting a seven spot on the board. Jonathan singled to start things but was forced out by an Adam grounder. Austin singled to left to push Adam to second. With two on, Jason roped one to right for an rbi-double. Leading 5-0, Chris hit a grounder to second and the second baseman tried to pick Jason off of second but the throw went into the outfield, allowing Austin to score and Jason to move to third and Chris to second. Tenney then exploded through a ball to dead center to drive both runners in, with a double. Eric continued his great start singling home Tenney to make it 9-0. Jeff Johnson singled for his second hit and after a flyout for the second out, Andy lofted a high fly to left-center that the outfielder mishandled allowing both runners to score.

Trailing 11-0, Pax finally got on the board spreading around four hits, two groundouts and a flyball to make it 11-2 after four innings.

Rez had its second scoreless inning in the fifth stranding an one-out single from Austin. Pax also went scoreless, leaving two runners on base.

The Warriors opened again in the sixth, taking advantage of their last at bat of the game. Tenney laced his second double of the night to open the inning, and trotted home to score on Eric's fourth hit. Up 12-2, Jeff Johnson doubled through the wind to put the Johnson brothers on second and third. Jamy then got into the action and cut one into the right-field wind that bounced to the wall giving him a triple and plating two runs. Now up 14-2, Andy roped a single to score Jamy. Jonathan followed with his third hit of the game and after the first out, Austin lined one to right that handcuffed the right-fielder, loading the bases with just one out. Jason just missed a big hit, instead hanging a flyball in the wind, good enough to score one run and make it 16-2. Chris finished off the scoring with a double, plating both Jonathan and Austin.

Pax went down quietly making the final score 18-2. The defense was solid throughout, with 11 infield assists, two double plays and no errors. Because of the wind, the outfield didn't get much action with just one putout happening outside the rim.

Chris pitched a fine game in the wind, striking out two batters which complimented his 4 rbi at the plate. Every single player scored at least one run on the night.

Next week, Rez faces St. Andrew Blue at 6:50 on field #4. If the wind is blowing in the same direction, watch out for some fireworks.