Cards take 3-2 win in short season opener

The Challengers' first game of the 2003 season lasted less then two hours as the Bern Cardinals worked out a 3-2 win.

	Thomas Landis pitched four shutout innings, but ended up with a no-decision.

One mistake by reliever Manny Marchant and a defensive blunder by shortstop Patrick Zöllig was all it took the Redbirds to hand the Challengers their first opening-day loss since 1997.

Angelo Rodriguez took Marchant's offering with two outs in the top of the fifth over the center field fences for a two-run homer, and in the top of the seventh, Zöllig threw away Vail's grounder to lead off the inning.

Vail crossed the plate three batters later with what turned out to be the winning run.

The Challengers scored first as Jose Valdez' RBI-single plated Thomas Landis in the second inning.

But after that, the Challengers found no recipe against starter Severin Fries, getting shut out over the next four innings.

But Landis matched Fries' performance as he tossed a one-hit shutout over the first four innings, allowing only four walks and striking out three.

Marchant (0-1) took over to pitch the final three innings, and he promptly retired two of the first three batters he faced.

But Rodriguez kept the inning alive as he hit a homer over the center field fences for a slim 2-1 lead.

	Chris Palatinus watches his double clear the fences in the second inning. He later homered off Fries.

Zöllig's first error of the season enabled the Cards to score an insurance run in the final inning, and it was all they needed.

Chris Palatinus homered with two outs in the bottom half of the inning, but Harry Bregy's short fly ball landed in Rodriguez' glove to end the game.

Game notes
The Challengers are 4-4 at home against the Bern Cardinals over the last three seasons. ...Palatinus' homer was his first since July 29, 2001.