Last Tuesday the Musketeers opened the season up at home against the Valmeyer Pirates. The Pirates finished last season as the IHSA Class A State runner-ups so the Musketeers had their hands full from the first pitch of the season. Griffin Ziebold was on the mound for the Musketeers in the home opener. Ziebold pounded the strike zone and mixed his pitches well, but was not helped out by the defense behind him. After a couple fielding mishaps by the home team, the Musketeers were facing a 3-0 deficit after three innings. The Musketeers did not get on the board until Tyler Koester led off the fourth inning with a leadoff single and was relieved for by Seth Bass to be pinch ran for. After a stolen base by Bass, Cj Doiron laced a single into the outfield and scored Bass from second base. The Pirates responded the very next inning with a couple runs of their own and led the game 5-1. The Musketeers had some work to do at the plate and unfortunately could not keep up with Pirates on offense. Red Bud scored another run off of an Alex Birchler single down the third baseline, but it was not enough to top the Pirates. Red Bud fell 7-2 in the first game of the season.

Red Bud had to sit on the loss on Wednesday before returning to action Thursday when they paid the Marissa Meteors a visit. The Musketeers were ready for this contest from the very first pitch. Tacking on a run before even heading out to the field where Thomas White took the hill for the Musketeers. White was on his game, working all of his pitches well and mixing his offspeed pitches at the right times. The Red Bud offense was on fire all the way down the lineup card. Every player in the starting lineup reached base at least one time, and recorded a hit in the scorebook. Griffin Ziebold, Blake Cowell, Gage Baldwin, and White all recorded extra base hits in this contest as well. The Musketeers were able to add to their lead every inning, and was constantly putting the pressure on Marissa pitchers to make pitches and work out of danger. White pitched four and two-thirds innings while only allowing a run and struck out nine batters. The Musketeers short-gamed the Meteors in a 13-1 boat race.

The Musketeers continued their offensive explosion into Friday’s game when they traveled to Elkville to play the Falcons. Cowell took the ball for the Musketeers in an effort to get the Musketeers above the 500 winning percentage mark to start the season. Cowell used his fastball effectively to pitch to contact, try to work through innings quickly, and keep his pitch count low. The Musketeers quickly gave their pitcher run support by putting three quick runs on the board in the first inning. The Musketeers put the ball in play consistently in the game, and the Falcons were unable to make the necessary plays in the game to keep the Musketeer offense in check. The offense was able to put runs on the board every inning just like the night before, and kept the Falcons on their heels. Griffin Ziebold had a nice game going 3-4 with a few RBIs to his name. Cowell went four innings and only gave up two runs before being relieved in the fifth by Birchler. Birchler was able to set the Falcons down 1-2-3 in the fifth and completed the 14-2 trouncing for the Musketeers.

Red Bud began the season 2-1 and will have a full slate of games next week. Playing four of the five days next week, it will be all hands on deck to try and have a successful week. If Red Bud can sustain their hot bats and continue to throw strikes, the season is looking very bright for the Musketeers after one week of play.