Opening Day of the 2016 schedule was set for Tuesday May 31st at Port Arthur Stadium in Thunder Bay against the Border Cats, rain however would postpone the opener until the following day. Wednesday came and north of the border the Dogs would fight the Cats in back to back games. Game One would be a high scoring 15-6 affair with no runs scoring in the just the 1st, 6th, and 9th innings, starter Nate Jones would go 3 innings and earn his first ever NWL win. Game Two would be scheduled for just 7 innings and would be the exact opposite of game 1 with the MoonDogs winning it 4-0 with starting pitcher Jordan Harms go 5 innings for the MoonDogs striking out 5.
The next series would bring them to Mayo Field in Rochester on Thursday to take on the Honkers. Mankato would start super hot against there Southern Minnesota and North Division rivals by scoring 7 runs on them in the first 2 innings. Those runs were highlighted by a 2 runs shot in the first by Jake Shepski, but those weren't the only runs Mankato would score. The MoonDogs would tack on 5 more while only allowing 2 runs to win it in another blowout game 12-2 with Ricky Digrugilliers going 6 innings striking out 5 and walking none taking the win. Home Opening night was scheduled for Friday against Rochester to cap off the series at Frank Rogers Park but after moving the start times 3 times the game was postponed until June 8th when the Honkers come back to town.
Duluth's historic Wade Stadium was the final stop this week for the MoonDogs as they would take on the Duluth Huskies. Saturday night the series opened with a tight matchup between the ball clubs as they went back and forth like a couple of gladiators. After Mankato went down 1-0 in the first they would tie it in the 5th and go up 2-1 in the 6th, the Huskies would lead 3-1 in the 7th but Mankato would prevail with 2 runs in the 8th inning. Sunday again would see a much different game as Mankato came roaring out to a 4-0 lead in the first 2 innings and scoring another 2 runs in the 6th to pull it 6-0, it would be in the bottom of the 9th when Duluth would score a single run on a sac fly to finish it 6-1 Mankato.
After the first week of the season the MoonDogs are sitting on top of the North Division and are the only undefeated team in the Northwoods League at 5-0. Mankato is 1.5 Games ahead of Waterloo, Duluth, and Eau Claire who are all tied for 2nd at 4-2 after one week. Don't be worried it's only the start of the season in the next week Mankato will have there home opener on Monday at 7:05 against the Willmar Stingers at Frank Rogers Park before traveling to Bill Taunton Stadium in Willmar on Tuesday. Wednesday will see back to back 7 inning games at 6:05 and 8:05 in a doubleheader against the Rochester Honkers and then head back to Mayo Field in Rochester on Thursday. Friday and Saturday will see the Eau Claire Express visit The Frank for the first time this season at 7:05 on Friday and 6:05 on Saturday. To cap off the next 7 days it'll be a home game on Sunday at 6:05 against the Stingers before heading to Willmar to play them on Monday night. We'll be back next week for another recap of MoonDogs Baseball and remember to cheer on your hometown Mankato MoonDogs!
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