Strangers get big opening day win

Strangers in the Alps showed the rest of the league what happens when they are found, winning last night's opening game of the 2008 Massachusetts Patriot League spring season.

The 6-2 victory over the Recess Renegades was highlighted by a six-run barrage in one inning, highlighted by game MVP Kelsey Grannan-Doll's run production. The Renegades staged a mini-rally of their own the following inning -- spurred by a Buckner-esque error by Strangers' first baseman Colin Steele -- but solid by pitching by Captain Eric Pierce and Wayne "Flip" Fantasia got the Strangers out of said jam. (Steele was subsequently demoted to right field.)

"We won," Pierce said after the game. "We're the winners, or the winnereenos, if you're not into the whole brevity thing."

The victory did come at a cost to the Strangers, however, as Pete "Sierra" Navarra suffered a bruised whole left side of body, and Seth Kline lost 23 pints of blood after scraping his knee in a fall at second base.

"That blood really tied my body together," Kline said.

The Strangers did not fare so well at the post-game dance-off, losing to Top Gun despite a spirited performance of "Jump On It." Several anonymous Strangers sources have since griped that Top Gun's theft of their dance moves was "over the line."

Countdown to Opening Day

Strangers In The Alps schedule, Spring 2008

April 24
6:30 p.m. vs. Recess Renegades (Field 2)
7:15 p.m. ref duty (Field 2)

May 1
6:30 p.m. vs. Spanking Machine (Field 2)

May 8
6:30 p.m. ref duty (Field 2)
7:15 p.m. vs. Stewie's Sexy Party (Field 1)

May 15 (equipment duty)
6:30 p.m. ref duty (Field 1)
7:15 p.m. vs. Gettin' Cider (Field 1)

May 22
6:30 p.m. vs. Top Gun (Field 2)

May 29
7:15 vs. Bootleggers (Field 1)

June 5
6:30 p.m. vs. Drunk And Looking To Score (Field 1)
7:15 p.m. ref duty

June 12
6:30 p.m. vs. Gettin' Cider (Field 1)