The weather was ideal for baseball on Sunday, and the Cubbies weren't bad either. The defending OBA C champions kicked off the Thames Valley Senior Baseball League regular season with a 3-2 win over the Mitchell Astros on Tout Field at Connaught Park.

This game didn't feature a whole lot of offence. Ryan Fraser drove in two runs in the fourth inning and rookie Scott Austin doubled to the gap. That was about all Kincardine needed to win on this day.

Walkerton's Eric Elliott was handed the ball to start this game for the Cubs. Mitchell scored both of their runs off Elliott in the first inning and a half. Casey Harris came in to replace Elliott and shut down the Astros. Fraser then entered the game in the fifth inning and pitched shutout ball, though he had some help along the way. Pat Fritz made a great barehanded pick-up to make an out at first base, and then with a full count and the bases loaded, Adam Marseilles entered the game to keep the Astros from crossing home plate. Marseilles brought this game home, shutting down the Astros in the final three innings.

It was the first game of the season for both squads, and Kincardine was pleased with the result from opening day.

"I think we're even stronger this year," said infielder Greg Stepaniak. "We have almost everybody returning, plus we have added a few more talented players."

The only player who did not return this season is 3B Matt Melissis, who is currently on a professional tryout with San Diego after finding success in the Australian Professional League over the winter.

The Cubbies finalized a roster on Wednesday following a rain-shortened Blue vs. White intrasquad game. There were 30 players vying for 25 spots on this year's edition of the Cubs, so the game was a final chance to get a look at everyone in a game situation. Kincardine dressed 22 players for Sunday's home opener, with manager Dave Dunlop doing well to get them all into the game.

Kincardine announced that this year's Mike McLelland Classic, which has become an extremely popular event in Kincardine, will be held on August 3. The Cubbies will play a 2 p.m. game against the Oakridge Reds, to be followed by a game between the Kincardine peewee Cardinals and Goderich. The Cubs will then play a second game at 7:30 p.m.. Listowel will be the opposition in that contest.

The Cubs also announced that the OUA Sir Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks will return to Kincardine for an exhibition contest this season. The two teams have met three times before, but scheduling prevented a game last year. The Golden Hawks are coached by Kincardine native Scott Ballantyne, who uses the exhibition as a evaluation tool and pre-season warm-up for his club. The Cubs use it as a final tune-up before the OBA tournament and TVSBL playoffs.

The Cubs are in action Sunday night, again at home. The defending TVSBL champs from Listowel will be in town for a 7 p.m. start on Tout Field at Connaught Park in Kincardi