The Mavericks dropped the first game of the 2009 season, and not in good fashion, either.

The Mavericks were the visiting team against the Meridians, a newcomer to the NKABL.

In the top of the first Inning, Matt Coyle and Todd Burger were hit by pitches to put two on.  Rob Dicken connected for a 1-out double to CF to score the first 2 runs of the game.  The top of the first came to end shortly thereafter, and it was time for the Mavericks to take the field.

Matt Dumont was on the pitcher's mound for this game, and started the game off by walking 5 straight batters.  His control was out of whack.  "I knew after 3 pitches that I didn't have my stuff today," he remarked.

Vinny Folchi came on to relieve him.  By this time, 4 runners had crossed the plate, and Vinny really didn't have his work cut-out for him.  However, he retired the first batter he faced, walked the second, got a fly-out to Todd Burger in CF, and picked the runner he walked off of 3rd base.

The second inning was short for the Mavericks, although they were able to scratch one run across with a single to LF from Marcus Folchi and two Fielder's Choices from Mark Takvorian and game-sub Darryl Cordrey.  The score was then set at 5-3 with the Meridians in the lead.

Vinny Folchi's second inning of work ended quickly.  He gave up a single, and struck the next 3 batters out!

The 3rd inning was another short one for the Mavericks.  Matt Coyle singled to CF to lead off the inning, but Todd Burger hit into a fielder's choice, Matt Coyle out at 2B.  Todd was picked off trying to steal 2B, and Rob Dicken ended the inning with a pop-out to SS.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning, Vinny came back in full-force, retiring 3 out of 4 batters successfully.  The first batter singled to CF to start off the inning, but Vinny made quick work of the next 3 batters, setting them down in order by recording a Fly-out to CF, and 2 more strikeouts to retire-the-side.

In the top of the 4th, the Mavericks just couldn't get the sticks going.  Matt Dumont hit the ball back to the pitcher, Corey Hanson walked, Vinny Folchi grounded into a fielder's choice, and Marcus Folchi struck out to end the inning.

The bottom of the forth saw Vinny get into a little bit of trouble.  The first batter hit to 3rd basemen Corey Hanson who bobbled the ball allowing the running to get on base.  Vinny retired the next 2 batters on strikes, but gave up an RBI single to the #9 hitter in the lineup to bring the score to 7-3, Meridians.  He would then walk a batter and take the final batter out on strikes.  Vinny was currently at 8 strikeouts for the day so far!

In the top of the 5th, Mark Takvorian led the inning off with a single to CF.  Game-subs Darryl Cordrey and Adam Noyes both went down on strikes, with Matt Coyle hitting into a inning-ending pop out to 2B.

In the bottom of the 5th, things started to get ugly for the Mavericks.  Vinny gave up two singles to the first two hitters of the inning, walked the 3rd guy, retired the 4th batter on a flyout to CF, and the 5th batter on strikes.  He then walked the 6th and 7th batters in the inning.  However, because of passed balls that should have been caught by the catcher, the two runs that came across the plate during this inning did not count towards Vinny's ERA.  Vinny finally retired the 8th batter of the inning on strikes bringing his strikeout total to 10 thus far! 

To lead off the top of the 6th inning, Todd Burger drew a walk.  Rob Dicken then hit a lazy-pop single to LF.  Matt Dumout was then walked, and Corey Hanson was hit by a pitch to bring Todd Burger in for the Mavericks 4th run of the game, bringing the game to 9-4, Meridians in the lead.  Vinny Folchi would then strikeout for the first out, and Marcus Folchi would ground into a fielder's choice for the second out of the inning.  Matt Dumont was thenpicked off 3rd base on a botched call by the umpires.  The pitcher balked, and the umpires failed to see the balk.

In the bottom of the 6th, Vinny walked the first batter, gave up a single to the 2nd batter, and hit the 3rd batter before being replace as pitcher by Matt Coyle.  Matt walked the first batter he faced.  The second batter reached on a throwing error by SS Corey Hanson, plating 2 runners.  A 3rd and 4th run of the inning was plated on a passed ball by catcher Marcus Folchi and a wild pitch.  The 5th and final runner scored on a fielder's choice, ending the game via 10-run-rule.

It was a tough loss for the Mavericks, hoping for a little better turnout.  Walks and errors lost the game for them, so hopefully the next game they come in full-force, ready-to-play.  Coach Rob Dicken has emhasized fielding praftice and pitch location for his pitchers. "We lost this game on 2 bad innings," he remarked, "and if we take away those 2 innings, we're in the game to the end."  He has talked to his players about throwing first-pitch strikes, and believes the Mavericks will have a better showing in heir 2nd game of the year.

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