Refusing to succumb to championship hangovers, the Bronx Pirates and the Yonkers Railsplitters both began their title defenses in impressive fashion last week, earning Week 1 sweeps to kick off the 2019 season. 

On Saturday, April 6, the reigning 'A' champion Railsplitters fended off a challenge from the Nassau Yankees, winning a pair of one-run ballgames to reassert their position as the division's top dogs. Yonkers manager Jon Zeron named Elizabeth Benn the team's Opening Day starter and Benn did not disappoint, throwing five innings of three-hit baseball and allowing just one unearned run in her 2019 debut. The Yanks rallied against the Splitters’ bullpen, however, tying things up in the 6th inning. That set the stage for the late-game heroics of Felipe Martinez, as the Yonkers third baseman smacked a walk-off single in the 7th to give the Railsplitters a hard-fought 5-4 win.

The Railsplitters would go on to beat the Yankees 3-2 in Game 2.

The following day, the three-time defending ‘AA’ champion Pirates took on the NYC Mud Hens, who were playing their first NYCMBL game since 2015. The Buccos made the most of two big innings en route to a pair of 5-3 wins, striking for five runs in the 4th inning of Game 1 and scoring five more on two first-inning homers in Game 2. Bryan Howard and Jeffery Gomez were responsible for the Pirates’ longballs.

Around the League:

(scores reflect Pointstreak results as of 12:15 p.m. on April 12) 

NY Blacksox sweep Brooklyn Dodgers: The Blacksox picked up a pair of thrilling wins over the Dodgers, topping Brooklyn 6-5 and 10-9 on April 7. Particularly impressive was the Blacksox rally in Game 1, which saw them score seven runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to squeak out a walk-off victory. Mark Perez—who picked up the win in relief—drew a bases loaded walk to plate the game-winning run in the form of Jeff Lagares.

NY Twins sweep Nassau Yankees (AA): The 2018 ‘AA’ runners-up scored a pair of wins over Nassau, topping the Yanks 6-2 and 8-5 to start the season. Alex Gomez and Rafael Espinal both drove in 3 runs for the Twins.

Too Hot sweep NY Cubs: Rico Aymat’s club won two very different ballgames on Sunday, picking up a 6-5 win over the Cubbies in Game 1 before drubbing their opponents 13-1 in the nightcap. Jesus de los Santos shined in the Game 2 win, allowing just two hits and striking out eight in four innings of work.

NY Express split with Legit: The Express battled to a split with Legit on April 6, dropping Game 1 5-1 before coming back to blank the newcomers 3-0 in the second game. Harry Bonhomme tossed a complete game in Legit’s victory, allowing one unearned run and five hits to pick up the club’s first NYCMBL win. The Express answered with a gem of their own in the nightcap, as Robert Negron threw six innings of no-hit ball, striking out 10 batters on the night.