The Opole Bears, fresh off their first ever State Tournament appearance in 2025, opened the 2026 campaign with an 11-1 win in 7 innings over the Flensburg Falcons at Red Bialka Memorial Field in Opole. The Bears scored 2 in the 1st, then 6th in the 2nd and 3 in the 3rd to plate all the runs they’d need. Mavrick Novitski singled home 2 runs in the 1st then added an rbi double in the 3rd to key the offense.
Opole started the game with consecutive walks to Masyn Patrick and Brodi Huls, then got a 1-out, 2-run single from Mavrick Novitski to go ahead 2-0.
In the bottom of the 2nd, Alex Robbins walked, as did Dominic Hoikka. Robbins would score on a wild pitch and Hoikka came home on an error to give the Bears a 4-0 lead. After reaching on the error, Masyn Patrick swiped 2nd and then went to 3rd on a single by Brodi Huls. Alex Lange then doubled to left, plating both Patrick and Huls to make it 6-0. Walks to Mavrick Novitski and Tate Lange brought in another run for Opole. Alex Lange then scored on a passed ball and it was 8-0 after 2 innings.
In the bottom of the 3rd, Brodi Huls singled with 1 out, then eventually scored on an error to make it 9-0. Mavrick Novitski then ripped an rbi double to drive in Alex Lange to make the score 10-0. After Will Eichten was hit by a pitch, Jordan Schmitz singled to drive in Novitski to give the Bears an 11-0 lead after 3 innings.
The Falcons got their only run in the top of the 5th when Eli Epling walked with 1 out, then Seth Becker singled to put men at the corners with 1 out. An rbi single from Oscar Tavarez scored Epling to make it 11-1 but that was it as they wouldn’t threaten to score again and the Bears picked up the 11-1 win when the Falcons hit into a game-ending double play in the top of the 7th.
Flensburg 1 3 5 – 1 7 innings
Opole 11 7 2 – 11
WP: Sam Butler 2.0 IP 0 runs 0 hits 4k 2bb
Isaiah Folsom 2.1 IP 1 run 2 hits 3k 1bb
Tate Lange 1.2 IP 0 runs 0 hits 4kk 0bb
Max Posch 1.0 IP 0 runs 1 hit 1k 0bb
LP: Camden Rasmussen 1.1 IP 8 runs 3 hits 2k 6bb 3hp
Gunner Gustafson 4.2 IP 3 runs 4 hits 1k 2bb 1hp
Bears:
Masyn Patrick 0-4 bb, 2 sb, rbi, 2 runs
Brodi Huls 2-3 bb, sb, 3 runs
– Chris Ebnet 0-1
Alex Lange 1-5 2B, 3 rbi, 2 runs
Mavrick Novitski 2-4 2B, 3 rbi, run
Keaton Gustin 0-1 bb
– Will Eichten 0-0 run
– Hunter Boeckermann 0-0 bb
Tate Lange 0-2 bb
– Max Posch 0-0
Jordan Schmitz 2-3 rbi
Sam Butler 0-1 bb, run
– Isaiah Folsom 0-2
Dominic Hoikka 0-2 2bb, run
Falcons:
Reece Hubbard 0-2 bb
Samuel Perez 0-3
Kurt Crosby 0-3
Carlos Melanciano 0-3
Gunner Gustafson 0-2 bb
Camden Rasmussen 0-3
Eli Epling 0-2 bb, run
Seth Becker 2-3
Kaleb Primus 0-1
– Oscar Taverez 1-2 rbi