The 2017 season open up on Friday night as the Panthers welcomed in the Cañada Colts for a 2-game series at the U.  It had all the pomp and circumstance of a season opener under the lights, but that soon faded as the teams struggled to get things going offensively and it turned into a pitcher's duel.  Inning after inning, zero after zero kept lighting up the scoreboard at Union Stadium. 

There were opportunities to scratch runs across, but each time the defense stepped up and made a play or the pitcher worked is way out of a jam.  City had the first chance in the bottom of the 1^st, when Auston Chastain singled and stole second with one out.  He advanced to third on a groundout, but was stranded. 

City looked to be in good shape to score again in the 3^rd as Antonio Torres led off the inning with a double to right field and quickly advanced to third base on a wild pitch.  However, he was cut down at the plate on Shaq Robinson's infield grounder.  Shaq advanced to 2^nd on the throw and then stole third with just one out.  Another infield grounder and another runner cut down at the plate.

With two outs in the 5^th, the Colts made two errors sandwiched around a walk and the bases were loaded.  City could not deliver a base hit to plate a run.  The panthers had opportunities again in the 7^th, 8^th and 9^th innings, but failed to score each time.

The Colts only real opportunity and threat of the game came in the top of the 8^th inning.  A leadoff walk was followed by two Panther errors and the bases were loaded with no outs.  The inning promptly came to an end with a fielder's choice grounder to get the runner at home, a pop out to 3^rd base and a groundout to 3^rd to keep the game scoreless.

Finally in the bottom of the 10^th inning some 4+ hours later, a run would be scored.  Joe McNamara led off the inning with a walk and then Auston Chastain singled to center.  Antonio Torres followed up with a perfectly placed bunt that rolled to a stop down the 3^rd base line a foot away from the chalk for a hit to load the bases with no outs.  After a fielder's choice to cut down McNamara at home, Brett Little came up with one out to draw a bases loaded walk (to score Auston Chastain) as the Panthers walked off with the 1-0 win.

RHP, Polo Portela, threw 4.1 scoreless innings and struck out 9 Colts.  He then yielded to Mitchell Miller who threw 3.2 innings and fanned 5 batters.  Nick Mears threw 2 innings to close out the game and would be the winning pitcher.  Mears struck out 2 and collectively the pitchers struck out 16 Colts in the win, while surrendering just 2 hits.

Auston Chastain finished the game 4x6 with 2 stolen bases, Shaq Robinson had 3 stolen bases, and Antonio Torres was 2x6, with a double.

City will host the Colts again tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon at 1pm at the U.