After a 23-month hiatus, Sidwell hosted a home baseball game on a picture-perfect Friday afternoon. The mood was dampened when visiting Flint Hill scored a run and moved runners to second and third base with only one out in the top of the first. However, starter Matt Harden battled and stuck out the next two batters to end the inning with minimal damage. He road this momentum through the next four innings, not allowing another hit and only two other baserunners. He struck out seven while only walking one. Clearly, he was central to the Quakers win, a convincing one that ended early due to the 10-run rule.

There were other highlights to the game, including Colin Leonard's record-breaking day on the base paths, as a courtesy runner for Harden and then for himself as a pinch hitter. He stole six bases. Every position in batting order scored at least once, except for the third spot -- from which Briley Ward had a day, going 2-2 with a sac fly and four RBI. Robbie Schooling pinch hit in the fourth with two outs and recorded a clutch two-out RBI line drive to right field. Bench contributions abounded.

The long-awaited season-opener was a team effort, and an excellent one at that.