A cool Tuesday evening brought plenty of excitement for the 8U Edmond Jaybirds as they welcomed the Cowboys for a much-anticipated opener. That excitement quickly turned into concern when the Cowboys jumped out to a 2–0 lead in the top of the first, courtesy of a leadoff single and a pair of early defensive misplays by Edmond. Starting pitcher Thomas Shaw battled through a barrage of foul balls before notching a key strikeout to contain the damage.

In their first turn at the plate, Edmond’s offense wasted no time shifting the momentum. Everett Click reached safely on a bobbled grounder, and Gage Stacy followed with a single to put pressure on the Cowboys’ defense. Moments later, Preston Paxton ripped a hard ground ball to center, driving in the Jaybirds’ first run of the season. This opened the floodgates, as Duke Bothun and Cohen Evans each reached base, aided by more Cowboys miscues. By the time the scorekeeper ended the frame, Edmond had pushed seven runs across, transforming a shaky start into a comfortable 7–2 advantage.

The second inning brought more drama, with Bothun stepping in to pitch and striking out two batters in short order. A handful of infield errors allowed the Cowboys one run, narrowing the gap to 3–7. Undeterred, the Jaybirds tacked on another run in the bottom of the inning, sparked by a sharp single from R. Lawrence and an opportunistic dash home by Weston Powell.

The highlight for Edmond’s defense arrived in the top of the third, when Stacy took the mound and swiftly retired three Cowboys with a pop-out, a fly ball, and another pop-out. Sensing a chance to put the game away, the Jaybirds erupted once again in the bottom of the third. Stacy led off with a booming double, then hustled home on a Cowboys error. Paxton continued his strong showing at the plate, while Bothun and Evans capitalized on every defensive lapse, padding Edmond’s score. Powell’s well-placed single and a two-bagger from C. Plumb helped push the Jaybirds’ total to 15 runs by the inning’s end.

“I’m extremely proud of our players for the hard work they’ve put in leading up to this game,” said Head Coach Kyle Ridenour. “They’ve focused on fundamentals and teamwork from day one, and it really showed on the field tonight. We also owe a big thank-you to our sponsor, jayBird, for providing the facilities and equipment that made our preparation possible.”

With opening-night jitters firmly behind them, the Jaybirds looked every bit the formidable squad that fans anticipated, leaving the Cowboys reeling and setting an encouraging tone for the season ahead.

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