by Luc Sachteleben, Mortsel Stars, www.mortselstars.be
The first game of the season was a hit for the average baseball lover. Brasschaat organized a Opening Day with special guests René Laforce (IBAF) and Steve Janssen (NL coach). Pleasant weather, sun, lots and lots of people and above all, a more than decent game of baseball between the Braves and the Stars. Mortsel Stars opened the score in the second inning after hits by Cedric Vandesompele, Nguyen “Papi” Boulet and Alain Meseure (0-1). The score was quickly balanced and in the third inning the home team took a 2-1 lead. Mortsel could count on Papi being in good shape as a pitcher to hold the home team. Also at bat the Cuban brought his stuff with a home run in the fourth, equalizing the score (2-2). But some sloppy defense allowed the Braves to set the score to 5-2. The Stars didn’t lose any motivation and got a run back in the sixth with hits by Cedric Vandesompele, Nguyen Boulet and Steve de Saedeleer (5-3). In the seventh Brasschaat had to bring in their relief pitcher, and the Stars pushed on for an extra run due to hits by Kenny Soetens, Rafael Duran Garcia and nice squeeze-play by Sebas Vandesompele (5-4). The Braves weren’t flawless too, and on error Kevin Vandeperre took care of a tied score that inning. For Mortsel Papi left the mound, and reliever Rafael Duran Garcia took over perfectly. Till the last batter… With 2 outs in the ninth, the Braves hit the game winning 76 meter homerun over the fence. Final score: 6-5.
Anyway, The Stars might have deserved more, but were ready to go again on Sunday. Steve De Saedeleer was the starting pitcher and had to allow one run in the first inning. Sebas Vandesompele replied that same inning with a hit and a swing of Kevin Vandeperre tied the score again. Mortsel took advantage of failing defense of the Braves in the second. Errors on Alain Meseure and Aaron Solis gave the Stars a lead 2-1. A hit by Rafael Duran Garcia made it worse and brought the score to 3-1. In the fifth it went the other way around. A hit in right field was the start of a series of novice errors and allowed Brasschaat to get back to 3-3. The setback also seemed to be at bat for the Stars, because in the sixth Mortsel blew a bases loaded and one out. On both sides it was time to change pitchers. For Mortsel Steve De Saedeleer was relieved by Christophe Van Braecken, after pitching well for 6 innings. In the seventh Mortsel took the lead again. A infield hit by Aaron Solis, in combination with a sure triple of Rafael Duran Garcia, plus a hit by Sebas Vandesompele, put 5-3 on the board. This was also the final score, although the ninth did bring more excitement. The Braves got men on base, but a nice flyball catch of Aaron Solis gave Mortsel Stars their well earned first victory.