They say pitching is always behind the hitting when a baseball season starts.

Monday, May 01, 2000

They say pitching is always behind the hitting when a baseball season starts.

That was certainly the case Sunday, when the Austin Packers pounded the Schells Blue Sox of Minneapolis, sweeping the doubleheader 19-9 and 18-8.

Austin collected 35 hits in the two-game set, including three home runs.

"I realize baseball people want to see 3-1 and 4-3 games," said player/coach Joe Serratore. "They’ll see that down the road, when we play teams like Rochester.

"Today, everybody wanted to show what they could do."

Serratore starred in the opener, going 5-for-5 with a two-run home run and three runs scored.

"I’ve been playing 22 years and that’s the first time I’ve had five hits in a game," Serratore said. "

Tate Cummins added a solo home run and a two-run triple. Austin batted around three times in the game.

In the nightcap, Kane Malo’s three-run home run in the fourth inning broke open the game and gave Malo his second hit of the inning. He’d singled and scored earlier in the inning.

Austin used six pitchers on the afternoon, with none going more than three innings.

Tim Brandt got the win in Game One and Jason Fornwald was the victor in Game Two.

The 80-game season started on sweet note for the Packers. Seven of the first eight Austin batters reached base and scored.

The Blue Sox got close once all day, cutting Austin’s lead to 9-7 in the fourth inning of the opening game. Jamie Beck led the Blue Sox charge, hitting two home runs, a two-run shot and a three-run job.

The Packers, hoping to fill the void left when the Southern Minny Stars folded last summer after their fourth season in Austin, drew a modest crowd.

Serratore believes continued success will be the key to the Packers winning over their Austin audience.

"We had to come out and play well today," he said. "And that’s what we did."