SLO’s 2023 Adult Baseball Season is underway
Adult Baseball is back on the field.
Sunshine welcomed the players of the SLO MSBL back to action on Sunday, April 2. A wet field prevented play at Sinsheimer Stadium, but a full slate of three games was played at Porter Field in Arroyo Grande. The matchup between the Hogs and Legends got bumped due to the late field change and will be rescheduled for later in the season.
Blacksox @ Angels
It’s been seven months since the SLO Angels brought home the league title in 2022. They kicked off the new year with a matchup against their opponent from that championship series, the SLO Blacksox. First pitch came at 10 am with a stiff breeze blowing in from the nearby Pacific coast.
The teams picked up where they left off the last time they faced each other. Excited to be back in the grind of the game, the two league powerhouses engaged in a classic pitcher’s duel for the majority of the game. The teams traded outs back and forth, with few hits or free bases given by either squad.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, with the Angels batting, an off-line throw from right field to the plate allowed the first run to come across.
That would prove to be the only run of the game. The Angels would go on to secure their first victory of the new year while kicking off the season for the league.
Hops @ Eagles
In the middle contest, two journeyman teams faced off in their pursuit of reaching the upper tiers of the league.
The Hops have many new faces in the dugout this season, hoping to get them closer to a championship. They started their year off across the field from the Eagles.
The Eagles soared to an early 3-0 lead. They took advantage of some Hops’ errors and timely hits. It looked like it may be an easy day for the Eagles. But the Hops had other plans.
The Hops hurlers took over and started dominating the Eagles’ offense. Every time the Eagles tried to put another run on the board, the Hops’ defense shut the door on them. At the same time, the Hops’ batters started swinging the lumber to jump start their offense. After initially taking a 3-0 deficit, the Hops scored seven unanswered runs over the Eagles.
By the end of the game, the scoreboard read 7-3, with the Hops securing the win.
Primos @ Outlaws
The Primos are the new kid on the block in the SLO MSBL. Entering their first year in the league, the Primos drew the late game for opening day. Their first opponent of the 2023 season was the Central Coast Outlaws.
The Outlaws are coming off another disappointing season in 2022. They are trying to turn things around this year. Unfortunately for them, opening day wasn’t the new beginning they were hoping for.
The Primos started off the scoring with their first run in the opening inning. Then they put the Outlaws down in order in the bottom of the frame. After that, they never looked back. In their next at-bat, they put up 5 more runs to open the gap to 6-0.
Featuring good pitching, near-flawless defense and a hungry offense, the Primos trampled over the Outlaws on their way to a 12-0 shutout. The Primos made a statement that they are here to compete.
Coming up next
The league had a bye week on Easter weekend.
Coming up this Sunday, April 16, the teams are back at it again.
There are three games scheduled for Sinsheimer Stadium. The Primos hope to keep the pedal to the metal while the Eagles sharpen their claws to grab their first win. Game time is 10am.
The Hogs get their opening day facing a tough opponent in the Blacksox at 1pm. Likewise, the Legends have their hands full with their first game of the year coming against the Angels at 4pm.
Over in Arroyo Grande, the Hops will take the field against the Outlaws at 10am.
Come out and watch some baseball
The league is always happy to have the public come out. Enjoy a day watching your friends and neighbors play the greatest game on earth.
There is no cost of admission to any of the games or venues. Bring your own refreshments, find a seat and root for your favorite team!!