Opening Day Results from around the CMBL
CMBL Game of the Week
Northern Lights 8, Eels 7
Opening Day delivered an instant classic as the Northern Lights held off a furious late rally to defeat the Eels 8–7.
The Lights struck first, plating three runs in the opening inning and maintaining control for most of the afternoon behind a powerful performance from Brandon Licursi, who crushed two home runs and drove in four runs to pace the offense.
Northern Lights continued to apply pressure throughout the middle innings, stretching their lead to 8–3 heading into the late frames. But the Eels had one more surge left
In the bottom of the 8th inning, with the bases loaded and momentum building, G. Wolff blasted a grand slam to bring the Eels within one run and electrify the dugout. The dramatic swing suddenly turned a comfortable Lights lead into a tense finish.
Northern Lights pitching managed to regroup in the ninth, shutting the door to escape with the one-run victory in a game that featured 20 total hits between the two clubs.
Impact Performances
Northern Lights
– Brandon Licursi: 2-3, 2 HR, 4 RBI
– Ben Foxall: 2-3, RBI
– Lee Murray & Jerry Torens: Solo HR each
– Zach Licursi: 4.2 IP, 1 ER (Winning Pitcher)
Eels
– Garrett Wolff: 2-3, Grand Slam, 4 RBI
– Tyler Barnes: 2-4
– Hayden Kreitzer: 1-3, BB, R
The win gives the Northern Lights an early statement victory, while the Eels showed they’ll remain one of the league’s most dangerous offenses.
Around the league:
River Ducks 2
Copperheads 0
After the fireworks from the Eels/Lights game, the River Ducks and Copperheads took the field at Robert Strange and put on an instant classic of their own. Unlike the offensive sluggfest of the first game, the second game was an authentic pitchers’ duel. Reigning CMBL Pitcher of the Year, Zach Reed (Copperheads), and Ducks’ newcomer Caleb Bishop went toe-to-toe all afternoon, combining for thirteen 1-2-3 innings. After all was said and done, Reed went all 9 innings, allowing 2 hits, 1 earned run, and striking out 16 Ducks. His counterpart, Bishop, went 7.2 innings, allowing only 1 hit and striking out 21 Copperheads. His day was cut short after hitting three batters.
The first of the Ducks’ two runs came on a Patrick Krack solo home run in the 6th inning. Their second run scored on a Ryan Dougherty single after an error put the batter ahead of him on second.
NC Renegades – 25
Port City Heat – 3
– Austin Eubanks (NCR): 5-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 R, 2 SB
– Christian Jones (NCR): 2 HR, 4 RBI, 3 R, SB
– Royce Woolfork (NCR): 3-5, HR, 2B, 4 RBI
Flytraps – 18
Dinos – 0
– Dylan Barton (Traps): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 7 K, 2-4
– Mike Band (Traps): 2-4, 3 RBI
– Bryan Perkins (Traps): 2-3, RBI, 2B
– Andrew Kelley, Ethan King, Evin Eichelberger: 2 RBI, 2 R each
WarDogs – 23
Cardinals – 3
– Kyle Monko (Dogs): 3-5, HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 3 R
– PJ White (Dogs): 2B, 3 BB, 3 RBI, 3 R
– Brian Self & Jake Mattox: 2 H, 2 RBI, 2 R each
– WarDogs Pitching Staff: 7 IP, 1 H, 2 ER, 12 K
Reign – 12
Reapers – 1
– Sam Martire (Reign): 3-4, 2B, 2 RBI
– Eddie Chavarria (Reign): 2-3, 3 BB
– Bray Field (Reign): 8.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 7 K, 2-4, 2 R
Brew Crew – 14
Marlins – 2
– Josh Kellogg (BC): 8 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 17 K
– Jeff Wilson (BC): 2-3
– Chris Giannetti (BC): 3-3, RBI
