The first game of the 2024 season featured sun, warm temperatures and good baseball weather.
The second game – not so much.
Centennial opened the year March 19 with a 13-3 win over Aurora and pounded 14 hits in the victory. On March 23, when the Broncos hosted North Platte and South Sioux City, the CHS bats were as cold as the feels-like temperatures. CHS finished with no hits in the 23-0 and 10-0 losses.
In the opener, Ruger Webb and Bryson Hornbacher had three hits each, including a double by Hornbacher, and Ryan Richters added two, including a double. Hornbacher drove in five runs, Webb three and Richters and Cael Payne two each.
Devin Slawnyk got the opening day start and pitched 4.2 innings, striking out 10 and allowing the Huskies just one run.
On Saturday, with wind, snow and temperatures in the 30s, the Bronco bats fell silent. North Platte scored 23 runs on nine hits in the first game of the triangular. CHS pitchers walked seven Bulldogs and hit 11 more.
South Sioux City scored 10 runs on seven hits in the final game of the day.
The Broncos (1-2) were to play at St. Paul March 26 and at Twin River Thursday, March 28. The next home game for the Broncos is Tuesday, April 2, when Fairbury comes in for a 4:30 p.m. first pitch.
