Righetti/s pitchers had trouble throwing strikes Friday night.

The Warriors/ hitters, on the other hand, went on a power surge in the third inning. That was enough to give Righetti a 12-6 victory at Elks Field in both teams/ season opener.

Catcher Josh Thomas started the scoring in Righetti/s nine-run third inning with an RBI single. Blaine Wilson made it 3-0 by hitting Santa Maria starting pitcher Eloy Ruiz/s thigh high fastball over the left field fence.

"It was a low fastball, and I hit it," Wilson said. "I/ve hit one in fall ball here, but this was the first in organized high school ball."

Wilson/s homer accounted for the last of Righetti/s earned runs that inning. Two Santa Maria errors followed and Jimmy Mittelberger, who tripled to start Righetti/s third, took advantage by depositing a pitch high up on the right field screen for a grand slam homer.

That accounted for the last of Righetti/s nine runs that inning.

"I was looking fastball, but he threw a curve and he hung it," MIttelberger said. "That was the first home run I/ve ever hit here."

Bobby Ferrel came on in relief for Santa Maria and got the last out of the third inning. He shut down the Warriors except for the fifth when they scored three runs. David Lohman, the fourth and last Righetti pitcher, singled in one run. Designated hitter David Hartman singled in two more.

"Bobby did a great job," first-year Santa Maria coach Scott Nickason said.

"Actually, both guys did a great job. The 12-6 score isn/t at all indicative of what the game was like. In the third, they hit two fly balls that should have been caught."

Instead they were misplayed into hits, and the Saints had two infield errors.

"We just took an inning off," Nickason said. "Take away the nine-spot, and it/s a completely different game."

After that third inning the Saints eventually got back into contention at 9-6.

They got back into contention mainly because they patiently stood and waited as Righetti/s pitchers consistently fired the ball out of the strike zone.

The Saints scored four runs in the fourth inning on one hit, Ryan Brocamonte/s RBI single. Warriors starting pitcher Ben Grover and relievers Rawlin Powell combined to walk four batters and hit two more that inning.

In the fifth the Saints, who had two hits on the night, scored two runs on no hits thanks to the two Warriors errors on the evening.

Finally Righetti relief pitcher Chris Mathews, who started the game at shortstop, struck out Joey Salazar for the last out of the inning.

"They hadn/t had that much trouble throwing strikes in practice," Righetti coach Eric Albright said. "In fact before the season started I thought pitching was going to be one of our strengths.

"Grover just couldn/t find a rhythm. That was a problem for some of the other guys. It was all a matter of rhythm."

As for his hitters, "We have some big boys. I think we/re going to have some highlight stuff this year if we can keep them under control if they don/t try to hit home runs, just try to hit the ball somewhere."

As for his group, "I was pleased with the way our guys kept battling, stayed in the zone," said Nickason.

Elks was packed Friday night. "It was a good turnout. Our guys were eager to play Righetti under the lights, show the people we/re not the team we were in the past," Nickason said.

Elks debuted a spiffy new batting cage to the right of the first base foul line and a new scoreboard. The scoreboard had a so-so night 7 several times the power went off for short intervals.

Righetti plays at Dos Palos at 11 a.m. today in a doubleheader. Santa Maria plays at Morro Bay at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Central Coast Tournament.

Atascadero 7, St. Joseph 6

ATASCADERO 7 Two seventh-inning runs did in the Knights in a season opener for both teams.

Josh Meagher and Mark Wilcox doubled for the Saints who play in the Central Coast Tournament Thursday.

Santa Ynez 6, Dunn 1

LOS OLIVOS 7 Santa Ynez starter Bret Jenkins allowed one run on three hits over six innings, and Devin Sullivan drove in two runs as the Pirates took their season opener.

Nick Giese had two hits and drove in a run. Krys Cash doubled and stole three bases. Santa Ynez plays a doubleheader that starts at 11 a.m. today at Carpinteria.

Nipomo 7, Coast Union 2

CAMBRIA 7 Justin Robertson hit a home run and also singled as the Titans won their inaugural varsity baseball game.

Samm Spears and Bryce Seguine both singled twice for the Titans. Justin Scoggins, Robertson and Spears combined on a five-hitter. Scoggins pitched the first four innings.

Softball

Santa Maria 2, Atascadero 1

Stacy Davis and Sophia Beltran singled in first-inning runs for the Saints. Then Santa Maria pitcher Erica Amarilles held off the Greyhounds after they scored a run in the seventh.

Beltran went 2-for-3 with a double as the Saints won their season debut at home.

Tennis

St. Joseph 12, Paso Robles 6

Graham Ortiz swept all his No. 1 singles sets by 6-2 scores as the Knights took their season opener on their courts.

Tim Schweigert swept his sets at No. 2 singles for the Knights. Brandon Kiser and Bobby Merrill swept at No. 1 doubles, all by 6-2 scores.

March 6, 2004