TAMPA, FL – The Empire League kicked off its 2019 regular season of baseball and it was an exciting one. The Plattsburgh Thunderbirds defeated the New York Bucks in blowout fashion, Saranac Lake Surge earn first win in franchise history as new  city, and Road City Explorers break a long losing streak by defeating the Puerto Rico Islanders in Puerto Rico.

The Plattsburgh Thunderbirds win over the New York Bucks was one you didn’t want to miss as third baseman Danny Muller belted 3 Home Runs which is a league record for most home runs in a game. Cas Silber tossed 4 innings striking out 9 batters before exiting due to tightness in his hamstring. The team also set a record for most home runs in a game with a total of 7. Johann Paniagua, Mohammed Hussein, Adam Tricarico and Gavin Stupienski all  hit their first of their seasons in a 17-9 victory over the Bucks

In Puerto Rico, it was the Julio Eusebio show for the Road City Explorers as he starts off the season with a complete game 1 run victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders. Eusebio struck out 11 batters to end the long losing streak of the Explorers. However the winning the streak against the Puerto Rico Islanders continues.

The newest franchise of the Empire League, Saranac Lake Surge, won their first game this evening in Concord, New Hampshire  by the score of 7-3. This was the city’s first victory as a team in Saranac Lake and also the first for first year manager Ken Matzusaka.  Catcher Tyler Hill of the Surge led the offensive attack going 3 for 3 with a run and a RBI, while Right hander Ricky Schafer tossed a 7 innings  allowing just 1 earned run .

7 homers in one game, 1 complete games thrown, first victory for manager and franchise and most home runs in a game completes day one of Empire League play.

Game times for tomorrow are 12:00pm Thunderbirds vs Bucks at Lefty Wilson Field, 2:00pm Surge vs Wild in Concord New Hampshire and 7:30pm Explorers vs Wild in Aguada, Puerto Rico.

Article by Empire Media