The Algonquin Bats were looking to put last year’s disappointing 1-14 season behind them with an Opening Day victory only to lose to the Lightning, 11-4, on Sunday at Carmel High School in Mundelein, Ill.

The Bats jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first as Ken Kozlik and Dan Kuksa both came around to score following one-out singles.  Kozlik scored on a wild pitch while Kuksa scored on an infield single with two outs.

Starting pitcher Bill Quoss settled down in the first inning after surrendering a single, double and single to the first three Lightning batters.  With 1 run in and runners on second and third the veteran lefty got the next three hitters out on a strikeout and two infield pop ups to avoid further damage.

The Lightning scored an unearned run in the second inning to knot the score at 2-2 before opening the third inning with 6 straight hits to take a 6-2 lead.  The Bats came right back with 2 runs in the top half of the fourth to make it 6-4 on runs scored by Don Gragnani and Mike Anagnostopoulos.  That was as close as the Bats would get, however, as the Lightning struck for 4 more runs (3 unearned) in the fourth and 1 run in the fifth en route to the 11-4 triumph.

Shortstop Dan Kuksa wasted little time in showing that he is back from the Achilles tendon injury that limited him to just 5 games last season.  He opened his sophomore season with the Bats with 3 hits, including a double, in three trips to the plate and turned a nice double play in the sixth inning on a groundball up the middle.

Rookie Matt Weiss pitched 2 gutsy innings allowing only 1 run despite giving up 4 walks.

Offensivly the Bats collected 10 hits and 5 walks leading to numerous scoring opportunities, but lack of timely hitting (2-for-9 with two outs) left 12 runners on base including 8 in scoring position.

The Bats next game is Sunday, April 26 at 2:00 p.m. against the Marauders at Emricson Park in Woodstock, Ill.