Temperatures slowly rise and winter turns to spring as the baseball team kicks off a new season. Pitchers, catchers, infielders and outfielders reported for their first home game on Tuesday, March 12 beating McKinney High School, five to one.

Senior Ryan Thomas threw the first pitch of the game to the catcher, senior Michael Crawford. Thomas was the starting pitcher and continued until the fifth inning, when senior Brad Hoeler relieved him. The game had a slower start, and McKinney scored the first run of the season. However, the boys quickly gained momentum, thanks to junior JD Kaufman’s batting. He hit a double and slid into second as Hoeler ran for home, but the umpire called him out. Although neither scored, this got the players and crowed excited and in to the game.

During the fifth inning, McKinney was at bat with the bases loaded and two outs. It was vital that Hoeler’s pitching was on par because he could either strike out one last player and end the inning, or the opponent could get a hit and bring in runs for the other team. The pitcher struck the last batter out and saved the inning.

Kaufman stepped up to bat during the sixth inning, sparking the biggest rally of the game. He hit the ball straight out of the ballpark, for a grand slam home run. The game ended with a quick shutout by Hoeler, striking out player after player.

The boys play Rockwall Heath in a non-district game on Saturday, March 23, but they continue in their district season on Tuesday, March 28 against Plano East.