[caption id="attachment_22522" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/SPORTS-11-YO-BY-BS-5.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-22522" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/SPORTS-11-YO-BY-BS-5-150x150.jpg" alt="Viper’s third baseman John Asher Howell snags a fly ball for the second out of the second inning of their season opener." width="150" height="150" /></a> Viper’s third baseman John Asher Howell snags a fly ball for the second out of the second inning of their season opener.[/caption]

By Bob Sofaly

It was opening night for Parks and Leisure Services’ “O Zone League” of 11-12 year-old boys Thursday at Burton Wells Park. The red “Team Texans” took on the green “Vipers” and the game was nothing short of exciting.

William Kinsey, coach for the Team Texans said his gang came “ready to play” with two of his players posting impressive batting statistics. “Starting pitcher C.J. Robinson homered, walked, doubled and got three additional RBI’s” Kinsey said.  Lukas Kinsey, despite taking a hard tag while stretching a base hit into a double, “drove in three runs as well”.

Coach K said his goal for the night was to see how his pitchers performed. He said he knew C.J. Robinson was ready, but rotated several additional pitchers throughout the game. “We were second place finishers last year and lost all but two of our boys” he said. “We basically have a whole new team.”

[caption id="attachment_22521" align="alignright" width="150"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/SPORTS-11-yo-by-bs-2.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-22521" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/SPORTS-11-yo-by-bs-2-150x150.jpg" alt="C.J. Robinson lets loose a pitch." width="150" height="150" /></a> C.J. Robinson lets loose a pitch.[/caption]

The highlight of the game came with a crushing solo home run by the Team Texan pitcher, C.J. Robinson, clearing the center field fence.

After trailing 10-3 for most of the game the Vipers rallied to make strong comeback, only to lose the contest 10-7 in the final inning. “I was really proud of the boys” said Viper’s head coach Asher Howell. “They played really well for being the first game.”