No Fooling! Rams Defeat Panthers 16-2

In a chilly night of baseball at Lochwood Park, the 10-year-old Green Mountain Rams took on the Pomona Panthers for the first game of the 2008 season. Even though the temperature at first pitch was 38 degrees, the Rams bats were hot all game long.

First-time pitcher Wyatt Featherston took the mound for the Rams and quickly dispensed of the Panther batters. The Rams outfielders -- Garret Storm, Alex Haussmann, and Ben McHugh -- saw little action.

Right fielder Haussmann made the first hit of the season with a single between second and third. Catcher Joe Anderson drew a walk, and then Featherston came to the plate. He smashed a home run far into the outfield. The inning ended with a score of Rams 3. Panthers 0.

The Panthers came back in the second inning quickly loading the bases. Featherston kept his composure though, and worked his way out of the jam, keeping the Panthers scoreless. Short-stop Jacob Staley then took the plate for the Rams and drew a walk. Arley Anderson also drew a walk, but the Rams were unable to get either player home.

In the top of third inning, Featherston loaded the bases again, but was unable to mastermind an escape this time. He allowed two Panther base runners to score. Pitcher Colton "The Bear" Faubion was handed the ball to get the third strike out. It took just three pitches to get the job done.

Ram's Austin Jones took the plate at the bottom of the third and belted the ball for a double. Haussmann singled, followed by a walks by Anderson and Featherston. With the bases loaded, first baseman Trevor Willson came up to plate. With a mighty swing, he smashed a triple into far right field. The score at the end of the third was 8-2.

The Rams offense made their best play of the game during the fourth inning. Third baseman Ben Boyd quickly fielded a bunt and made a throw to Willson at first. Pitcher Faubion kept the Panthers from scoring another run.

The Rams bats continued to be on fire in the final inning of the game. McHugh drew a walk, Haussmann and Featherston singled, Willson doubled, and Faubion hit a triple far over the center fielder's head. The final hitters of the game -- Staley and Boyd -- also hit singles. The umpires called the game because of the league's mercy rule.

Quote of the game came as Faubion walked off the field after hitting a triple: "Now that's how the Bear hits the ball."

Coach Willson gathered the boys together to congratulate the team on their first win of the season. "I thought you all played very well tonight," he said. "You got a lot of hits and made some plays in the field." The coach also told pitchers Featherston and Faubion they did a nice job on the mound. "We know you will improve throughout the season, but this is a great start."