Brenner Bernstein led off the season for the Quakers: on an 0-1 count, he ripped a low liner up the middle -- but the Riverdale second baseman made a spectacular play, laying out and snagging the line drive on a short hop. He popped up quickly, and his throw just beat Bernstein to first. Whether a different outcome would have led to a different game, or at least a different inning, is an open question.

Unfortunately, after a solid at bat to start the game, the Quakers were unable to muster many more and recorded only a single hit, by Ted Hefter, on the day.

Pitchers Sammy Singer and Kaoru Yamazaki were locked-in and effective when the were ahead in the count but fell behind more often than they should have, and some capable Crusader hitters took advantage of those counts and a few defensive miscues to tally eight runs.

Some good defense was the highlight of an otherwise lack-luster day for Sidwell. Bernstein (at second base) made an inning-ended play on a sharp ground ball hit up the middle; Singer snagged multiple line drives in center-field; shortstops Tyrone Patterson and Logan Matthiesen both made good plays on shallow outfield pop-ups; and catcher Octavio Bruteman had a good day behind the plate.

It is fortunate that the Quakers have another game on Friday -- and thus only 24 hours to dwell on a disappointing start to the season.