Four runs in the top of the first inning, combined with strong starting pitching, powered the Mavs (1–0) to a win in their 2026 opener. In the top of the first, Jonathan Riley recorded the Mavs’ first hit of the year with a line drive up the middle, followed by Jake Winger’s two-run homer to right-center. After a walk to Sammy Swank and a single by Mekyel Almond, Swank scored on a wild pitch, and Almond came home on a Brodyn Sharp sacrifice fly. Reed Grimes earned the Opening Day start, tossing four shutout innings on just 36 pitches. Riley, Winger, Almond, and Sharp each finished with two hits and two RBIs. The Mavs return to the Mav Baseball Complex for their home opener Friday night, welcoming the Chesterton Trojans for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch.