With a packed, opening-day crowd at Bowman Field behind them, the bats accounted for 11 hits and exploded for six runs in the second while the mound held firm. Starting pitcher Zachary Murray pitched a gem through six innings and reliever Gavin Perry finished the shutout, as the team kicked off the season 1-0 with an 8-0 win over Mahoning Valley.

“It was about as clean of a game as you could hope for. Guys hit the ball, played good defense. Our pitching was excellent obviously, (posted) a three-hit shutout,” said Crosscutters manager Ryan Hanigan on the win. “I’m proud of these guys. They’re already playing as a team. There’s good chemistry and guys are picking each other up and playing hard. It was a pretty good game for us.”

Through the first 11 outs of the game, it seemed like we were getting pitcher’s duel, as each team racked up outs at will. But with two outs and two on, the Cutters would find a way to make the most of that final out in the second.

Seven straight at-bats ended with a runner on base, as they attributed five hits in the process. Dalton Robinson kicked things off with a line drive to centerfield, accounting for the team’s first RBI of the season with JM Long being the first to see home.

Right fielder Dalton Robinson of the Crosscutters catches a fly ball hit by Joel Dragoo of Mahoning Valley in the top of the first inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

They certainly wouldn’t be the last. With the order reset, Blake Simpson would reload the bases with another single before centerfielder Jackson Mayo delivered a first-pitch grounder to rightfield to get two more home.

Everything seemed to go right for Williamsport, as two at-bats later amidst another bases-loaded scenario, a deep, leftfield fly ball from catcher Cole Russo dropped right in front of Mahoning Valley left fielder Jared Quandt, putting two more runs on board to extend its lead to 5-0. Designated hitter Joshua Lopez would cap the rally with a leftfield single to bat Russo in, as the Cutters went into the third up 6-0.

“I think we smelled blood in the water there, which is what a good team does,” said Hanigan on the second inning. “Once we got that big lead, I felt like the game was in hand throughout most of the game.”

Blake Simpson led the team in hits with three and Josh Lopez and Riley Nelson each logged two on four at-bats, as seven Cutters secured a base hit on the night. Cole Russo and Jackson Mayo led the team with two RBIs.

“I thought our guys had good at-bats and put pressure on the pitcher when they got on base. Our guys were efficient, I’ll take that,” said Hannigan on the offense.

Jackson Mayo of the Crosscutters singles in the second inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

From there, the stout defensive play on both ends resumed, but Murray kept the Journey Bank Ballpark crowd comfortable.

Through six full innings and 90 pitches, he’d allow just three hits and issued a single walk, posting eight strikeouts. And when he was relieved after a strong debut outing, closer Gavin Perry picked up where Murray left off, allowing just one Scrapper on base with a walk and upping the team’s strikeout total on the night to 12.

“When you’re warming up and you feel you have all four of your pitches, you feel like you’re going to have a day and I feel like I had one of those days,” said Murray on his performance. “I think it’s really going to boost my confidence for the rest of the summer, hopefully going into the next start but it’s always one start at a time. I’ve just got to take it like that.”

“He’s got good stuff, and he uses it well,” said Hannigan on Murray. “All around, just super solid. 90 pitches through six, three-hit shutout, that’s all you could ask for. And then Gavin came in there and pitched three great innings, real efficient. Only had to use two guys tonight, so that’s huge for me.”

In terms of season debuts, it couldn’t have gone any better for the first-year manager, who looks to keep the team firing on all cylinders as it tries to clinch its first series win on Wednesday. The team heads into Game 2 of its series against Mahoning Valley with plenty of confidence.

Dalton Robinson of the Crosscutters scores in the second inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“It’s going to be a lot of the same lineup (tomorrow), one or two changes. We’re just trying to keep the energy going,” said Hanigan on Game 2.

Jackson Mayo of the Crosscutters scores in the second inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

JM Long of the Crosscutters scores the first run of the 2024 season during the second inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Relief pitcher Gavin Perry of the Crosscutters throws in the top of the ninth inning against Mahoning Valley at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Relief pitcher Gavin Perry and catcher Cole Russo of the Crosscutters hug after a win on opening night against Mahoning Valley at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette