The season begins for the Phillies

After a very soggy weekend, the Arden Hills Phillies made their 2006 debut yesterday, losing 7-0 to a Yankee team comprised primarily of New Brighton kids from my son’s former school. Except for one poor inning, it was tight contest featuring very good pitching on both sides. Both starters went 3 innings apiece, with the Yankee starter striking out the side in each inning. Only one baserunner reached against the Yankee starter, a young, bespectacled lefthander who threw hard. The Phillies starter was nicked for one run in the 3rd, while his reliever had a rough debut, surrendering 5 runs in the 4th inning. Yankee pitching remained strong throughout, although the Phillies left the bases loaded in both the 5th and the 6th innings.

My son was officially 0-0, being hit by a pitch in the 3rd (making him the only baserunner to reach against the Yankee starter) and walking in 5th. He also stole two bases and missed a catchable popup while playing 2nd base. All in all, he was just fine. While the team was disappointed in losing the opener, they may have seen the best pitching they’ll see all year in the first game. I would not be surprised at all if the Yankee lefthander is pitching for Mounds View High School in about 6-7 years. Next up – a game against an unnamed opponent from the Centennial Little League, under the lights, on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Lexington Park in lovely Blaine, hard by the potential future home of the Vikings.