The champs begin season 3 and other notes

Some teams had to wait until tonight to open their seasons.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

The Monterrey Sultans visited Iowa City to open their defense of the World Series. The Sultans only gave up 3 hits but fell to the Cornjerkers 2-1. An RBI single in the 8th by Ken DuBose broke a 1-1 tie and proved to be the decisive margin.

Milwaukee is trying to take their 3rd straight AL North title and probably has a bigger prize in mind for this season; they start their journey with a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Silly Nannies. Homer Treadway hit two solo homers for the Manic Maulers, the second coming in the 8th to break a 3-3 tie.

Louisville looks to win their 3rd straight division title as well, and they begin their quest with an 8-7 victory against the visiting New York New York. Louisville got all their runs in the 6th, highlighted by an Adam Campbell grand slam which was followed by a Cy Hughes solo shot.

The Killer Whales' first game ever in Seattle ended in a 3-1 defeat to the Colorado Spring Chickens. Big free-agent acquisition Ajax Drabek of the Whales was outdueled by rookie junkballer Marty Lane. Lane went the distance, giving up 1 run and allowing 7 hits.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

The defending National League champion Fargo Dirtbags beat one of their rivals, the Toronto Toros, to open their season. Rico Valdez paid immediate dividends, as he singled in his first at-bat and scored on Greg Burkhart's home run. Cy Young winner Javier Henriquez gave up 3 runs in 7 1/3 innings, and the offense gave him just enough to win, as the Dirtbags took the game 4-3.

Houston is another team looking to win its 3rd straight division title- they opened with a 6-1 loss to San Juan. Wally Lawton was excellent for San Juan, going 7 innings and yielding only 3 hits and 1 run.

Salem lost its first game of the season to Salt Lake City 4-2. Edwards Pierre drove in 3 runs for the Shakers to drive the offense.

The former Philadelphia franchise, now in Washington, D.C., gets its first win in the nation's capital, beating the defending NL East champion Atlanta Bandits 6-2. The Blue Coats exploded for 4 runs in the 8th to break a 2-2 tie using 6 singles. Buzz Gaillard homered eariler in the victory.