By JOHN BOHNENKAMP
It was quite the introduction.
Now comes the getting-to-know-you part of the season for the Burlington Bees.
The Bees opened the Prospect League season on Tuesday night with a 9-3 win over the Normal CornBelters at Community Field.
It’s going to be a while before they’re home again, though. The bus leaves at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday for a five-day road trip to Springfield, Ohio, Johnstown, Pennsylvania, and then a one-game stop on the way home to play at Normal on Sunday.
Five games, 1,468 miles.
“They’re going to get to know each other,” Bees manager Owen Oreskovich said. “And I’m going to get to see them, see what they can do. We’re going to be spending pretty much every hour together, so we’re going to get to know each other.”
“It’s going to be important for us to get bonded, to feel each other out,” said first baseman Kila Teixeira, one of three players returning from last season’s team. “Getting to know each other’s names, so we can communicate better on the field. So I think it’s going to be really good for us.”
The Bees made a statement early, scoring four runs in the first inning, then were backed by a procession of five pitchers who kept the CornBelters from mounting an offensive challenge.
“It was good to see some guys, see what they’re capable of,” Oreskovich said. “The pitchers did a good job. We struck out a lot (13 times), but some of these guys haven’t had a lot of at-bats this season, so we have to work the kinks out.”
Teixeira had the big hit in the first inning. A hit batter and three walks led to Burlington’s first run in the inning, then with the bases loaded and two outs Teixeira knocked everyone in with a single that was then misplayed by Normal center fielder Dylan Coty.
Teixeira, who hit .314 with the Bees last season, had just 11 at-bats this season at Hawaii Pacific.
“I’ve been waiting for an opportunity the entire season to play,” he said. “It just felt amazing to get that hit. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
“He’s been in this league, and he’s seen the pitching and knows what to expect,” Oreskovich said. “So that’s awesome he could get the big hit for us.”
Kolt Kurzman, batting ninth in the Bees’ lineup, drove in two runs with a third-inning single that gave Burlington a 6-0 lead.
Normal scored two runs in the fourth inning, then the Bees extended their lead to 7-2 in the sixth inning when Troy Peltz’s single scored Tanner Reinartz.
Burlington got its final two runs in the eighth on bases-loaded walks to Teixeira and Lucas Krebs.
Oreskovich used five pitchers. Starter Tate Slagle and relievers Mitchell Cox, Kyle Prebil and Zach Troxel each pitched two innings, then Quentin Holmes pitched the ninth.
Now the Bees hit the road.
“It’s definitely a little different than last year,” Teixeira said of the team. “A lot of different guys, a lot of different cultures. It’s great to get to know them, and it will be great to get to know them better on this trip.”
Top photo: Kila Teixeira clears the bases with a first-inning single. (Steve Cirinna/Burlington Bees)
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