Opening Day in Midland

On Tuesday it was opening day here for Midland Rockhound, The 2023 roster have a mix of players from the previous years such as Logan Davidson, Max Schuemann, Michael Guldberg, J.J. Schwarz, Ryan Cusick, and J.T. Ginn to newer ones making a jump such as Lawrence Butler, Darel Hernaiz, Shane McGuire, Shohei Tomioka, and Royber Salinas. Also on the team is pitcher Brian Howard, who been in Las Vegas for previous two seasons return here in a relief pitching role, and Greg Deichmann, who played 14 games for the Cubs in 2021. Both players were on 2019 Midland Rockhounds team.

The team got a third mascot name Chip to go along with institute of Juice the Moose (from Midland Angels era) and Rocky. What is Chip? A hammer.

The festivities including unveiling of a large US flag and a plane flying over the stadium. The fans helped the singer to the words of the National Anthem when the mic kept cutting out.

They took on Tulsa Drillers who have this year's Dodgers no. 1 prospect Diego Cartaya. Royber Salinas and Emmet Sheehan started the game. Drillers got on board first with 3 runs in the 1st including Brandon Lewis two-run homerun shot. Salinas lasted 2 1/3 innings with 6 strikeout with Tomioka relieving him for 1 2/3 innings of no run work. In the 3rd inning I witness an out from batter box violation for the first time when Drillers player Jorbit Vivas hit a foul ball and took a very slow walk back to the batter  box. The ump called automatic strike on him once he got back. Since he was down 2 strikes the batter box violation makes it strike 3 for him. He was not too happy about it.

Rockhounds got on board in the 3rd with Schuemann solo shot and Bret Harris driving Butler in. Trayson Kubo went on the mound and end up giving up two runs when Andy Pages drove in Josh Stowers and Johnny LeDuca making it 5-2. He would be replaced by Charles Hall who lasted an inning. Deichmann got them back in the game with 2-run homerun shot in the 6th making it 5-4. Drillers get a run in the 7th, but the Rockhounds erupted with a 6 run inning with Deichmann coming up big to give them the lead. It was enough to chase Leal Lockhart off the mound. Jordan Leasure comes in and ends up issuing a balk sending Davidson home. Entering the top of 9th 10-6 leads things go a little weird. Yusniel Diaz would come in pinch running for Cartaya. He stole second, but turned his ankle while doing so. He exit the game with injury and ends up getting a rare "In pinch runner for a pinch runner" call as Imanol Vargas taking over. A throwing error from Hernaiz allowed Vargas to come home. Austin Briggs gave a hit then threw a wild pitch sending Jose Ramos (from Panama WBC team) home. After issuing two walk leaving the bases loaded Briggs gets pulled for Calvin Coker who closed it out in a nailbiting 10-8 win. Will be at the ballpark on Friday night. It's going be another fun season at the minor league park.