League Openers - SUNSHINE! Axemen facility improvments.

Fantastic match-ups for the league openers.  And fantastic sunshine!

Three match-ups involve teams that look pretty close on paper.

• Thurston at North Eugene.  Two of the top three teams in the league.  Hopefully, the pitching match-up will be Andrew Moore vs TJ.  Both teams have top notch defenses behind their pitchers.  The game will probably be determined on the battle between Moore and the Thurston bats.
• Springfield at South Eugene.  The defending MWL champs lost a lot to graduation, as did South.  But the Millers have returning MVP Kameron Bates, who should be on the mound.  South has one of the best players in the league in Gus Craig in centerfield.  This is a very even match between two good teams that have an opportunity to establish an identity with a win.  Miller fans should take note of some great improvements at South.  Check out the new drainage system for the outfield!  Actually you won't see it because it is under the grass, but the usually swampy South outfield will be bone dry today.  Also new is a huge concrete base for the spectator area.  Batting cages will soon be in right field, shortening the right field pole from 410 feet to 340.  With luck a new scoreboard will be up by the end of the season.  Could South be a program on the rise?
• Churchill at Sheldon.  Two teams in identical situations. Both teams graduated a ton of talent.  Both teams have great programs that know how to develop players.  Sheldon appears to be a little ahead of Churchill at this point, but Churchill D is always good, and if the Lancer pitcher has a good day, the tide could turn in Churchill's favor.
• Marshfield at Willamette.  Willamette is my 'program of the future'.  Maybe the future is now - as in today.  I believe the Willamette program is moving into the world of Churchill, Marist, North Eugene, Sheldon and Thurston and establishing a long term successful program.  Marshfield, loaded with sophs and frosh, but no seniors is hoping this young team establishes a new Pirate baseball attitude.  The Pirates can show their new attitude by bursting the Wolverine's bubble.
• Marist has a bye.

Reminders: 

I should have an accurate roster for most teams after today's North-Thurston game.  Still need Marshfield's and Springfield.  All rosters are on one page for ease of use.  Here is the link: Rosters

You can get by inning updates from the game I attend by following mwlnow on Twitter Link to Twitter . Search for 'mwlnow' and click on follow on the right side.

Text me scores while you are at games.  My text number is 541-337-1311.  I need new texters from most teams.  I Twitter out the results as I get them.  If you are smart phone savvy, you can sit in the stands and smugly say, 'North and Thurston are tied 1-1 in the ninth and Marshfield is ahead of Willamette in the first."

Check out the new poll.  It will close Monday the 4th.