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The Mesa Spiders played host to the Douglas Jackrabbits on opening day.
RHP Bobby Compton got the start for Mesa and after throwing his first pitch for a strike, he allowed 3 runs on 4 hits in the 1st inning.
2B Jeff Beasley walked with one out in the bottom of the 1st to become the team’s first base runner. He then got caught stealing.
C Jon Simon picked up the first hit in Mesa’s history with a leadoff single in the 3rd. He then stole 2nd base and came around to score when Jeff Beasley reaches on an error.
The team’s first RBI didn’t come until LF Matt Bracken hit an inside the park solo home run with two out in the bottom of the 6th.
CF Bill Howard drove in two runs with a single in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game and force the first extra-inning game in league and franchise history.
C Jon Simon won the game with a two-run walk-off home run to left field. The first walk-off hit of any kind for the Spiders, but also for any team or player in the league. When he crossed the plate, Simon scored his 4th run of the game.
Douglas sent RHP Josh Sheppard to the hill on opening day. His first pitch was a called strike.
Jackrabbits leadoff man, left-fielder Scott Kevin doubled to lead off the game and came around to score the team’s first run when CF Chris Kelly doubled two outs later to get the team’s first RBI. Kelly also hit a two-run double in the 5th and an RBI single in the 7th to drive in 4 runs on the day.
Relief Pitcher Nick McCoy threw wildly on a pickoff attempt in the 6th inning for the team’s first error. It did not directly lead to any runs scoring.
The Mesa Spiders won the game 10-8. Right handed reliever Jonathon Jones pitches a perfect 10th to get the win. Douglas right handed Greg Gambill faces three batters in the bottom of the 10th, allowed a double and a home run, and picked up the loss.
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