PVBL: Moncton Moose
Moncton Wins Season Opener
April 6, 2000

The Moncton Moose started the 2000 season off with a bang, by beating the defending Data division champs, The Washington Sea Dogs twice by a score of 1 - 0. The Moose made only minor moves during the offseason, and were confident going into the 2000 season with the young team that closed out 1999. The only major personel move came when the Moose traded for former Deadwood player/manager Don Slaught. Slaught immediately took over as the teasm hitting coach. "Bringing in an experienced guy like Slaught really helps. After his world championship run last year, he knows what it takes to get to the top, hopefully he can pass that on to the younger players on our team." said owner/G.M. Marc Gagnon after the game yesterday.

The first game against Washington had Moncton's Salomon Torres against Ben McDonald. The crowd was expecting a pitching duel, and they were not disapointed. The game was finally won in the 13th inning when ex - Moose Mike Timlin gave up the winning run to Moncton first baseman Jose Guillen.

The second game had Cliff Magrane against Washington's young phenom, Mackenzee Leefenhaufenhauz. Unfortunately, Leefenhaufenhauz left the game in the fifth inning with an inflamed tricep tendon. The turning point of the game happened when Washington's Nealy Becker gave up an unearned run to Moncton outfielder Shawn Green. Moncton's relief finished the game from there.

"I'm very pleased with the way my team started the season, we just have to keep it up." said manager Brooks "the human vaccum" Robinson after the game. "I'm going to continue with this lineup as long as wwe continue winning", refering to the team's opening day lineup, consisting of:
CF  Hippauf, J.                    
1B  Guillen, J.                  
RF  Green, S.                      
LF  Gonzalez, J.                  
3B  Orie, K.                    
SS  Elster, K.                    
2B  Gates, B.                      
DH  Veal, J.                      
C  Jensen, M.                

Starters               Long Relievers           Setup men
R  Torres, S.          R  Barnowski, J.         L  Villone, R.
L  Magrane, C.         R  Bevil, B.
L  Mulder, M.
R  Cruz, H.            Middle Relievers         Closers
R  Wagner, P.          R  Hetrick, J.           R  Scott, L.
                       R  Drahman, B.

--written by Marc-Andre Gagnon