Thursday, April 06, 2006

Hit it a Banks-ton

Your Biscuits lose 11-6 in the season opener. Andy Sonnanstine was OK in his Class AA debut, but the relief was bad. The Smokies used a five-run fifth to take the lead. Reliever Yorkin Ferreras had an off night, giving up all five runs and getting only two outs.

Wes Bankston's earlier home run was an absolute mash. There were about six of us in the press box and all of us gave an audible "whoa" as soon as he hit it.

Radio voice Jim Tocco and I were talking about if it was the longest ever at the stadium. It's definitely longer than the shot Jeff Francoeur hit in last year's opener that seared the scoreboard Biscuits' ear. Two years ago, Andy Marte of the Greenville Braves hit a line drive down the line that hit at the base of the trees past the railroad tracks in left. That one has always been my driving champion.

Considering Bankston's went over the wall at about 375 feet and that scoreboard soars about 50-60 feet above the playing field, I think I'll take Bankston's.

Two years ago, Juan Salas hit the scoreboard Biscuit in batting practice. For the next five minutes, all Dan DeMent could say was, "He hit the Biscuit. He hit the Biscuit."

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