Sidwell jumped on an early lead after a great first inning. Victor Doddy started the season off with a line drive single to right field. Two batters later, Tyrone Patterson also singled. Four players drew walks -- and Sidwell left the top of the first with a 3-0 lead.

Starting pitcher Logan Matthiesen worked efficiently, recording two ground ball outs within his first three pitches. The third batter singled. Unfortunately, the next two players reached on errors to extend the inning and give Riverdale Baptist a four-run first.

These first-game jitters stayed with Sidwell for a few innings -- and some excellent Riverdale Baptist pitching was tough for the Quakers in their first outing.

Sidwell showed some toughness toward the end of the game. In the bottom of the sixth, Garret Nixon recorded Sidwell's first out on a fly ball driven deep to left field. He ran back and made a terrific catch over his shoulder. Two pop-ups later and Max Johnson-Fradin had the Quakers out of the inning in 1-2-3 fashion.

In the Quakers' last at bat, Patterson got things going by reaching on a hit-by-pitch. He stole second, and Ethan Kohn drove him home on a line-drive doubled ripped to center field. This show of resilience at the end of the game was important.

All in all the effort was a good one -- though it was clear that the game was the team's first experience on the field and that they have plenty of work to do in the coming weeks.