May 20, 2014 4 min read

It was only one game in a season of 96.

No champagne corks were popped.

No rings sizes were taken.

But for the Wild Things, an organization looking for a validation to its plan, a 10-1 victory over the Frontier League Greys in the home opener at Consol Energy Park Tuesday night was a moment to savor.

And reason to exhale.

The Wild Things won their first game of the season after being swept in a season-opening series at Florence, and several key offseason acquisitions played significant roles against the Greys, the league’s travel team.

Scott Dunn (1-0), last year’s Pitcher of the Year who was acquired from Traverse City in an offseason trade, threw six shutout innings, and center fielder Danny Poma hit three doubles and scored three runs. Poma, like Dunn, was picked up in an offseason trade.

First baseman William Beckwith, another newcomer to the Wild Things, got Washington going offensively with a two-run double to the left-field wall that capped a three-run first inning. Right fielder Stewart Ijames, one of the few holdovers in the lineup, continued his torrid start to the season by going 3-for-4 with three RBI.

“They performed very well,” Washington manager Bart Zeller said. “Dunn pitched the kind of game you expect from him. He gave up some hits, but he gets out of jams and shuts down the other team.”

Dunn, who was 15-1 for Traverse City last year, was backed by a 15-hit attack. Washington scored seven runs in the first three innings and led 10-0 after five innings.

Dunn allowed five hits and did not issue a walk. He also got plenty of help from his defense, especially in the fifth inning, when the first two Greys batters reached base. Catcher Jim Vahalik threw out Zach Tanner stealing for the first out, and then Matthew Scriggs was thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple. Poma made a relay throw from the centerfield wall to second baseman Nick Ratajczak, who made a perfect throw to third baseman Carter Bell to get the sliding Scruggs.

“Dunn is the best type of pitcher to play behind because you there is going to be action in the field,” Poma said. “He throws strikes.”

There were plenty of balls in play going for hits against Greys starting pitcher Lamarre Rey (0-1), who was making his professional debut. He lasted only three innings, giving up eight hits and seven runs. It was another rough night for the Greys, who like the Wild Things, entered with an 0-3 record.

The Greys avoided the shutout when Joe Rapp led off the ninth inning with a solo homer off reliever Zach Fuesser, who pitched the final three innings for a save.

“One through nine in our lineup has a lot of experience,” said Poma, a former 10th-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks. “Our bats woke up tonight.

“Not having a win and not playing the last two days was rough. It’s tough when you travel. You have to win at least one game in a road series. Two wins is awesome and three wins is a rarity. It was good that we picked it tonight in front of the fans in Washington.”

The Wild Things will retire the number of former outfielder Chris Sidick at the Aug. 22 game against the Gateway Grizzlies. A Cecil native, Sidick played seven seasons (2005-11) with the Wild Things and is the Frontier League’s all-time leader in many statistical categories, including games (588), hits (635), runs (434). … The Wild Things are 7-6 in home openers and have won the last three.