On a beautiful Monday May evening we faced the newest addition to the FMBA - the Airdrie Brewers - in their first ever game in the FMBA. Our leadoff hitter, 2017 FMBA Home Run Derby runner up Rich Martin hit an absolute bomb to welcome them to the league. The monster shot was immediately followed by Mitch Chicoine hitting one to the fence and pulling up well before 2^nd. By the time the third was over it was 3-0. In the 4^th rookie Adam Gorchynski hit an inside the park grand slam and we led 10-2. Rich added another double, Chicoine had 3 hits and pretty much everyone had an RBI.

Veteran Brandon Potts took advantage of the Brewers being the only team in the league that hasn’t seen him a hundred times and got the W, going 6 innings while striking out 6. He allowed just 3 earned. Koot pitched the 7^th and did not fail to entertain a loose White Sox squad. His first pitch sailed behind the Brewers hitter, and after allowing a leadoff walk he tried his best to throw a comebacker into center field despite being certain he didn’t need offseason pfp practice because he was over 30. Chicoine stole two bags to tie Koot for the team lead. We have entered the twilight zone…. Sox win 12-4 in a pretty uneventful game and start the season 2-0. Double dip against the Longhorns on Saturday tarps willing.

 The Calgary White Sox took the field on FMBA opening day for the first time in franchise history.  2018 marks our 9^th season in existance... I think.... Too many forgettable seasons lately to know for sure - we’ll get someone to look into that. We faced the new look Canadians who rolled into the park with the fullest dugout we’ve ever seen. New addition Cole McPhee got the start against his former squad and shoved for 6 shut out innings allowing only 1 hit while striking out 8. Only 1 ball left the infield through the whole game, which was good news as we had our C squad outfield in the starting lineup.

As for the Sox, flashbacks of 2017 occured in the first as we managed to load the bases on 3 walks and did not score a run by striking out 3 times. The offence failed to capitalize again in the 2^nd as Spaz managed to miss two consecutive bunt signs even though they were explained minutes before the first pitch. McPhee who "pitches better when he hits" scored the first TOOTBLAN of the season by getting picked off at second.

The offence finally got going however, Mitch Chicoine hit a 2 run double to make it 5-0, but got thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple - possibly in an attempt to get back to the dugout to close a mortgage. Rookie Sid ‘the kid’ Gillies drove in 2 runs, Danny Payne struck for an RBI against his former squad as did Cole McPhee. Another new addition Jamie Potter added an RBI along with Markus Koot adding one on a groundball hit to second that managed to cause a faceplant by the Habs second baseman. Koot also managed to steal 2 bases which put him in the league lead for the first time his life, this may have lasted until the early game Saturday morning was half over.

Jake Gaetz pitched the 7^th, striking out the side including the final out - former White Sox outfielder Vince Van  Uytfank for the 8-0 win.

Next up, the newest squad in the FMBA - the Airdrie Brewers on Monday night.