The Opp Bobcats began the 2004 high school baseball season with a game against the visiting Enterprise Wildcats yesterday.

Enterprise prevailed outscoring the Bobcats 10-3 in varsity action. The Wildcats also won a JV game by a final score of 13-0.

The varsity game began with what looked like some first-game jitters by the Bobcats on defense.

The Wildcats scored three runs in the top of the first inning off two hits and two errors to take an early 3-0 lead.

The Wildcats doubled the lead in the top of the third when three more runs crossed the plate.

Enterprise outfielder and Wiregrass Home Run Derby Champion Nick Love played a big role in both scoring spurts.

Love had a two-RBI double in the first inning only to be thrown out at third trying to stretch the hit into a triple.

In the third inning, the Wildcat slugger pelted a pitch sending it over the center field field fence before falling back to earth about 315 feet from home plate. The two-run homer gave Enterprise a 6-0 lead.

The Wildcats added another run in the top of the fourth for a 7-0 advantage.

Opp scored in the bottom of the fourth when two runs came in to trim the Wildcat lead to 7-2.

Ryan Cooke started the Opp rally with a one-out walk and scored in the inning. Adam Evans reached base on a hit in the fourth and also scored for the Bobcats. Ben Messick had an RBI-single in the inning.

The score remained 7-2 until the top of the sixth inning when Enterprise scored three more runs to push the lead to 10-2.

The score remained 10-2 until the bottom of the seventh when Opp pushed one run across.

Michael Hataway reached base on a hot shot down the third base line. The ball came off his bat and roared down the left field line for a lead-off double. He scored later in the inning on a passed ball.

Andy Hempe was the winning pitcher for Enterprise. He allowed two runs, both unearned, on two hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out four.

Love finished the game going 2-for-4 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored.

Ryan Robertson also had a big game for Enterprise going 2-for-4 at the plate with three runs scored. He reached base four of the five times he came up to bat, twice on Opp errors.

Keong King scored two runs and had two RBIs for the Wildcats.

Ben Messick took the loss after pitching 5 1/3 innings for the Bobcats. He allowed 10 runs on 12 hits and two walks. He struck out three.

Holt Parker pitched 1 2/3 innings and struck out four. He did not give up a hit, but walked one batter.

Opp plays again on Saturday when they face Andalusia and Monroe County at Andalusia High School.