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Local roundup: Berwick boys volleyball holds off Crestwood

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Lottery Numbers for Monday, April 10

<p>MOOSIC &#8212; George Weiss has been to almost every home opener dating back to the days of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.</p><p>Monday night was no different for the Scranton resident as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders hosted the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in front of a reported 11,000-plus crowd.</p><p>The balmy 80-degree temperature at the time of first pitch was a record for a RailRiders home opener.</p><p>Weiss was at PNC Field more than a half hour before the gates opened just before 6 p.m.</p><p>&#8220;Just the weather, the players. It&#8217;s exciting to see baseball again,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Weiss left excited, too, as the RailRiders beat Lehigh Valley, 2-0.</p><p>Not only was Monday the team&#8217;s home debut, but the RailRiders also unveiled their championship banner. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre won both the International League title and the Triple-A National Championship last season. It was one last nod to the best season in franchise history.</p><p>Aside from raising the banner, a highlight reel from the 2016 campaign was played and the Governor&#8217;s Cup and Triple A-National Championship trophies were on display during player introductions.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a cool thing. It&#8217;s good for the area,&#8221; Brian Walsh, of Moscow, said of the team&#8217;s recent success.&#8221;Actually, maybe it&#8217;ll get some more fans here. It&#8217;s definitely a cool experience.&#8221;</p><p>With top prospects like outfielders Clint Frazier and Dustin Fowler and shortstop Tyler Wade in the lineup, fans will have many opportunities to see possible future big-league stars. It reminded Weiss of the time he got a signed bat and jersey from Brett Gardner during the Yankees left fielder&#8217;s days with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the late 2000s.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s good to see them here and then in the big leagues, like (catcher Gary) Sanchez when he was here. And who knew when he got up there he&#8217;d hit all those home runs? Now he&#8217;s a regular,&#8221; Weiss said. &#8220;(Sanchez&#8217;s) is on the disabled list now, but he&#8217;ll be back here. Maybe rehab, you know? You never know what they&#8217;re going to do. I love it.&#8221;</p><p>The home opener provided a nice family night for Walsh, who was there with his 4-year-old son Evan. </p><p>&#8220;You go all winter, you can&#8217;t leave the house. It&#8217;s nice to finally have something to do,&#8221; Brian said. &#8220;(Evan&#8217;s) when I really started coming again. I didn&#8217;t come for a while and started coming once he was born. Now, we&#8217;re here every night.&#8221;</p><p>For Steven Zuniga, who came all the way to Moosic from the Bronx, Monday fulfilled a bucket-list item. Zuniga always wanted to come to the RailRiders home opener, and by season&#8217;s end, he wants to be a regular at PNC Field.</p><p>&#8220;Tonight, it&#8217;s exciting to see all the guys and all the familiar faces. I even got some of their signatures last year,&#8221; said Zuniga, who did attend a few games down the stretch last season. &#8220;Hopefully, this year I can come to the (Triple-A National Championship) that will be right here.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Steven Zumiga from the Bronx was the first one through the gate for the RailRiders&#8217; home opener on Monday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_opener2_faa-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Steven Zumiga from the Bronx was the first one through the gate for the RailRiders&#8217; home opener on Monday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_opener3_faa-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders&#8217; ground crew gets the field ready for Monday&#8217;s game. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_opener3_faa-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders&#8217; ground crew gets the field ready for Monday&#8217;s game. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_opener4_faa-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Fans wait for the gates to open for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders home opener against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Monday at PNC Field in Moosic. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_opener4_faa-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Fans wait for the gates to open for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders home opener against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Monday at PNC Field in Moosic. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_opener1_faaa-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Carl Verchuk, left, and Ed Farry, both from Moosic, tailgate before the Railriders home opener at PNC Field. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_opener1_faaa-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Carl Verchuk, left, and Ed Farry, both from Moosic, tailgate before the Railriders home opener at PNC Field. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>SWB returns to PNC Field</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By DJ Eberle</p><p>djeberle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach DJ Eberle at 570-991-6398 or on Twitter @ByDJEberle</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Home crowd relishes RailRiders