Covering Dallas, Monmouth, Independence, Falls City and surrounding areas since 1868

Dragons open 2010 with a victory

The baseball team tops McKay in bonus frames.

March 17, 2010

DALLAS -- Dallas' baseball team won its 2010 season opener 10-7 March 15 against McKay in Salem.

The Dragons made a few mistakes along the way, and coach Scot McDonald sounded almost glad that they did.

"If you went out there and played like the (New York) Yankees on the first day, you'd be a little nervous," said McDonald. "It'd be hard to improve upon that. We have a lot to work on, a lot of things we can sharpen up. It's always nice to have something to work on."

Dallas took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first but found itself trailing 5-1 after four innings.

The Dragons turned things around by scoring six times in the top of the fifth. Bryan Masingale keyed the outburst with a two-run triple and scored himself on a grounder by Connor Locke.

McKay, though, tied it with two unearned runs in the sixth. Both runs scored on a dropped fly ball with two outs.

The winning rally started when Kody Steele led off the eighth with a walk. Steele moved to second on Mitchell Senger's sacrifice bunt and scored on a single by Kinkade Fast.

Walks to Taylor Kestor and Matt Goodlett loaded the bases. Matt Reynolds drove in a run with a single, and Masingale made it 10-7 with a fielder's choice.

Pitcher Alex Donahue relieved in the fifth and earned the win. He allowed no hits and two walks and struck out six.

Dallas will play its first home game Friday, March 19 against Madison. The Dragons also will host Bend on Monday, March 22.