The opening night for Capital Area Team Sports' Men's League Softball proved an unqualified success as our six teams took to the diamond in search of victory. The Carolina Colts, Triangle Shockers and North State Senators found it last night, one thanks to defense, one thanks to offense, and one in dramatic fashion.

In the league's debut game, the Carolina Colts used stout defense while taking advantage of somewhat anemic hitting by the Raleigh Red Devils (a 3-for-19 performance by the first six hitters in their order) to earn their first win of the season, 8-2. Tony Cappelletti led the Colts hit parade, going 3-for-3 in the contest while Rob Alford scattered 11 hits from the Sons of Satan.

Forty-something year old Mike Bumpass twirled a six hitter and added a 3-for-4 offensive performance that included a pair of triples and four RBI as the Triangle Shockers took six innings to defeat the Capital City 95'ers in the first contest for both teams, 14-2. All but one of the Shockers would record hits in the contest, but the 95'ers would perform well in their first-ever game.

In the night's finale, the North State Senators and Wake County Wombats waged war in what would be a see-saw affair. The Wombats took an early 6-1 lead, but the Sens chipped away the rest of the night, battling back to take the lead, then give it up again. Down 14-12 in the bottom of the sixth and with game time expired, the Senators staged a dramatic comeback, putting together a series of timely base hits culminating with a Neal Harrington infield single that scored a hustling Pat Parks, capping a three-run rally along with a 15-14 win.

Capital Area Team Sports is pleased to announce that at the conclusion of the inaugural, Fall 2008 season of Men's League Softball, MLS will present a series of awards for individual performance in the form of customized miniature bats created especially for the league by Hillerich & Bradsby, famed makers of the Louisville Slugger brand of baseball and softball bats.

The league's Most Valuable Player, its Championship Series MVP, and the MVP of the league's inaugural All-Star Game will each receive one of these custom-stamped bats, as will the recipient of the league's first Silver Slugger Award, presented to the Fall 2008 MLS Batting Champion.

"We're pleased that we'll be able to make these one-of-a-kind items available to MLS players for their performance in our inaugural season, and personally I'm looking forward to handing out some lumber come October," remarked CATS Executive Director D.P. McIntire.

In addition to these awards, CATS has commissioned the MLS Championship Trophy and is in the process of identifying additional awards for individual achievement including an Outstanding Pitcher and Outstanding Rookie Awards, a "Heart & Hustle" award, and Gold Glove awards for each of softball's ten defensive positions. More details on these baubles will be announced as they become available.