After the longest winter in recent history, the Vipers emerged from hibernation, dusted off their bats and gloves and slithered their way to the Hood to face the Railhawks to kick off the 2025 season.
Duane Cobham got the start for the Snakes, grinding his way through his first three innings, while stranding eight runners along the way with no damage. Matthew Klamot would get the nod for the Hawks but fell into some early trouble, walking his first three batters. The Vipers pounced on the opportunity, as newly acquired free agent Angelo Nitsis sends a double to opposite field in his first AB as a Viper to make it 2-0.
In the third, Eagan Tormey entered the game for the Hawks, making quick work of the Snakes with back-to-back Ks. The Hawks would strike in the bottom half with a bases loaded walk by Tim Tormey to cut the lead to one with nobody out, however a timely pitching change by the Vipers would stop the Hawks mid-flight as Cobham handed the ball to Albert Meskawy, who’d strike out the next two batters to end the inning, avoiding further damage.
Eagan and Albert both looked sharp the rest of the way, only allowing two runners and collecting 3 more Ks apiece, but it would be the Vipers prevailing on this day, with the first hit of the game proving to be the game winner, coming off the bat of; none other than, the one and only, the man himself; Angelo Nitsis.
