The Calvary Lutheran Lions entered the season wanting to play as clean in the field as possible to assist their pitchers in being efficient and limit the opponent's damage each inning.
It didn't go quite as planned in Thursday's season-opener. The first batter of the evening reached on an error, the first of three in the first three innings of play for Calvary.
The defense did come around by the end of the third inning, but the deficit was too much to overcome in an 11-1 loss in five innings.
"If we don't play defense the game will get away from us and that's what happened," Calvary coach Rusty Bourg said.
The first four Bunceton batters reached base and the score was quickly 3-0.
The Lions got on the board in the bottom half of the first after leadoff batter Jonathan Lieb reached on an error and eventually scored when Sam Hoff reached on an error.
But five of the first six Bunceton batters reached in the second and the Dragons increased the margin to 7-1.
In the third, the Lions limited the damage to two runs thanks to a 6-4-3 double play turned by Lieb, Jared Braun and Nathan Bates.
"There's some good things to look at," Bourg said.
Kelton Sellars, who allowed three earned runs in 3 innings of relief, helped turn a double play to keep the Dragons off the board in the fifth.
Sellars struck out two and walked a pair while giving up seven hits.
John Becker pitched the first 1 innings, finishing with a strikeout and a walk.
"The kids have a good attitude and they're not too down and we did a few good things," Bourg said.
Dillon Alpers earned the win for Bunceton, allowing an unearned run and two hits with two strikeouts and four walks in three innings.
Calvary drew seven walks in the game, but the third and fifth innings ended with a strikeout looking with the bases loaded.
"Just put it in play and whatever happens, happens," Bourg said.
Becker and Garrett Johnson each had a hit for the Lions. Johnson put runners on first and third in the second with a single to center field before a double play ended the threat.
Becker singled in the third and ended up at third base after back-to-back walks.
Bates walked twice while five other Calvary batters drew a walk.
Calvary (0-1) will travel Saturday to play Lutheran: Kansas City at 2 p.m.
"It's kind of nice to get right back out there," Bourg said.