Five run seventh inning seals the win on Opening day

FAIRBANKS, Alaska (KTVF) - Opening day and game one for the Goldpanners against the San Diego Waves. The anticipation and excitement from the players and fans was in the air, and it was a duel from the first pitch.

Cole Phillips would get the nod to start the season off for the Goldpanners -- and would bring the heat from the first pitch. He would go to work quickly in the early innings running through the waves batting order, and the defense would have his back snagging quite a few double plays on the day.

San Diego would score the first run with a soft single into center.

The game would stay one to zero with the help of solid pitching from Ryan Kittredge to hold off the waves until the Goldpanner bats got hot in the seventh inning.

Tyler stone would be the game-changer smacking an absolute bomb over the right-field wall for the first run of the season. The towering homer would light a fire under the Goldpanners as they would go on to add four more runs in the bottom of the seventh that would seal the deal for win number one on the season.

We met up with head coach, Bret Lachemann for his thoughts on the first game.

“Feels good, our pitching staff pitched really well and kept us in the ball game. Actually, pitched better then that even and then we finally got the bats going later in the game. Stones homerun was big, it kind of turned the momentum and then we started getting some swings and things started going our way. We were able to score five in that inning and then Erickson came in and did a good job in the ninth,” said Lachemann.

We were also able to grab the big player for the game, the first baseman Tyler Stone, and ask how he felt about hitting the homerun that changed the momentum of the game.

“Well it’s awesome, for something just to boost momentum then have us carry on, on that. It just makes the game more fun. I was just going up there trying to get on base and get the guys started, and it ended up going out. So it’s awesome,” said Stone.

If the season opener is any indication, how far the panners can go this season??

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