Opening day for the YAO Babe Ruth League saw the Athletics take on the Orioles. In the early going the Orioles had firm control over the Athletics scoring 4 runs in the first inning. The Athletics seemed to have the jitters in the first inning with 2 costly errors in the field.
Orioles starting pitcher KJ Moreno started greatly striking out 4 of the first 6 batters he faced. Max Betteto gave the Athletics a little bit of life in the 2nd inning when he belted a Triple to deep right center field.
The Orioles opened up a 5-2 lead over the Athletics at the end of the 4th inning. The Athletics battled hard to get back within 1 run of the Orioles.
Betteto came to the Athletics rescue again in the bottom of the 6th inning with a 2-run RBI single to Center Field and securing a victory for the Athletics, and a final score of 8-5.
The Y.A.O Cal Ripken Division opened with the Red Sox defeating the Mets, in the afternoon the Phillies defeated the Orioles. The first game saw the Red Sox have a big 2nd inning led my Declan McKittrick, Narsje Brockington and Ricky Mallory. Mets countered with a strong 3rd inning led by Ryan Mullin, Finn Maitland and Marco Stirling. Pitchers for both teams struggled with walks in this first game of the season. Red Sox came out on top scoring 4 runs in the 5th inning led by Daniel Exel.
In the afternoon game the Phillies had their big inning in the 3rd, highlighted by a Riley Rego in the park home run accounting for 3RBI’s and Nic Martin hitting a triple also bringing in 3. The Orioles were led by Liam McCue's 2RBI’s, Eco Valdez and Brett Smith with 2 runs scored. Billy Montgomery got his first win, with 3 strong innings pitched. Liam McCue came in for Orioles and pitched two very strong innings, shutting down a strong Phillies team.
