If you enjoy old-style baseball, the Great Bend Boom’s pro debut was a perfect recipe.
The Great Bend Boom rallied for a 5-2 opening night baseball victory over a budding rival the Salina Stockade at Al Burns Memorial Field at Veterans Park. The teams play again at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Al Burns Field.
The Stockade’s defense collapsed with two critical errors that led to three unearned eighth-inning runs.
Matt Rimbielak reached on an error and moved to second base when Reece Bell was hit by a pitch. Kirby Campbell laid down a bunt that relief pitcher Fransisco Leon threw down the right field line as both runners scored.
Logan Trowbridge delivered an RBI single that scored Campbell for a 4-2 lead. Thomas Grady’s RBI single scored Trowbridge for a 5-2 lead.
Boom reliever D.J. Sharabi was flawless with five strikeouts in the final two innings to earn the inaugural victory.
The Stockade scored the go-ahead eighth-ining run on two hit batters and two walks. Steven Longo’s walk forced home Mike Rachun with the go-ahead run for a 2-1 lead. Sharabi rescued the Boom by striking out two batters.
The Stockade started the scoring swith a double by Morgan Blatnik followed by an RBI single by Alex Hernandez for a 1-0 lead. Starter Kyle Schwartz worked out of further trouble keyed by two strikeouts.
The Boom evened the score 1-1 in the second inning when Trowbridge moved around the bases on a forceout, stolen base, passed ball and a wild pitch.
The night featured a flawless rendition of the National Anthem by Grammy Award winner Bryan Pinkall followed by a perfect honorary first pitch by his father Gary Pinkall.
Opening night was a pitcher’s friend with 55-degree temperatures mixed with 80 percent humidity.
Starting Boom pitcher Kyle Schwartz and Stockade Tim Blackmon dominated the wood-bat wielding hitters through six innings with 19 combined strikeouts in a 1-1 ballgame.