Wizards meet their match in first game

Ian Schwallenberg was pleased with his debut Friday night as the season-opening starter for the Watertown Wizards.

Unfortunately, it wasn't quite as good as the effort from Little Falls right-hander, Jared Freni.

Freni allowed just three hits and one run in seven strong innings to help propel the Miners past Watertown 3-1 at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds. Little Falls won its first game before 2,473 fans, which set a record for a Wizards' home opener.

Those observers didn't see much hitting as the two teams combined for seven hits. Freni and the Miners' bullpen held Watertown to three hits, including zero in the final five innings.

Wizards manager Ryan Horning said the college players switching from aluminum to wooden bats wasn't the only factor behind the team's offensive struggles.

"It's been a couple weeks for these guys since they've faced live pitching," Horning said. "I think that's the biggest thing."

Schwallenberg, a University of Maryland, made just one costly mistake in the top of the first inning. Little Falls shortstop Andrew Stafford belted a three-run home run over the left field wall to produce all of the Miners' offense.

Schwallenberg didn't wilt under the Miners' pressure or the 80-degree heat. He retired the next eight batters he faced. The right-hander surrendered two more hits and finished with five strikeouts on 88 pitches.

The defense behind Schwallenberg was nearly flawless. Wizards shortstop Keli'i Zablan gobbled up every ground ball, and catcher Sam Mahoney threw out two baserunners trying to steal second base.

"Once in a while, you're going to let in some runs," Schwallenberg said. "It's going to happen. Seeing all the defensive plays, like the ones Zablan made at shortstop, I mean those guys are good fielders. It boosts my confidence."

Horning said that Zablan was swinging with confidence in the batting cage earlier this week, and it showed on Friday. Zablan, a Southern Utah product, smacked a solo homer in the fourth inning for what proved to be the Wizards' lone run.

"I think we've got a bigger team this year with a little more pop," Horning said. "It's going to be fun to watch."

Other than second-inning singles from Reid Chenworth and Ryan Faidley, Watertown wouldn't contribute another hit after Zablan's home run. In fact, the Wizards hit just five more balls out of the infield.

Zablan had one chance to keep a ninth-inning rally alive for Watertown. But with a runner on third and two outs, Little Falls reliever Eric Fama struck out Zablan to polish off the victory. Fama recorded two strikeouts in the ninth to earn the save.

"Right now, it's expected for pitchers to be ahead of hitters at this time of year," Horning said. "(Batters) have been hitting with aluminum all year. But I was happy with tonight."