LaCresent, MN - The Winona Chiefs dropped thier season opener on Saturday afternoon 5-3 to non-league opponent La Crescent. The Cardinals took advantage of early Chiefs miscues and scored 3 runs in the 3rd.  The Chiefs got one run back in the top of the 4th but the Cardinals scored another and knocked out Chiefs' starting pitcher Ryan Speltz in the 4th. Ryan Meyers threw the final 4.2 innings striking out 5 and allowing 1 unearned run.  The Chiefs added a run in the 5th and 9th innings and had the tying run on first when the game ended.  "I really liked the way the guys battled back and hung in there until the end. We made a few mistakes that are typical of an early season game, but I know we can fix those mistakes and I really liked the way we hit today," said Chiefs manager Ryan Buhler.  "I'm excited for the rest of the season."

 

The Chiefs had 10 hits as a team including 3 extra base hits.  Leading the way for the Chiefs was Jay Stensgard who went 3-5 with a triple and an RBI.  Brandon Schmit went 2-4 with a double and Brett Schmit added a double. 

Winona Chiefs            0    0    0     1    1    0    0    0    1         3    10    2

LaCrescent Cardinals    0    0    3    1     0    0    0    1    x         5    6      4

 

The Chiefs next game is thier home opener, Sunday, 5/20/12.  The Chiefs will take on the Plainview-Elgin-Millville (PEM) Bucks at 2:00 at Gabrych Park in Winona.  The game against the Bucks is also their first Twin Rivers League (TRL) game of the year.  The Chiefs went 15-1 and finished in first place in the TRL in 2012.