Express run away with opener

They say speed kills and it certainly did Friday night for the Moose Jaw Miller Express.
The Express stole six bases and put the Regina Red Sox under a lot of pressure as the Express won their Western Major Baseball League season opener 9-4.
"We're obviously not a big power team so that speed is going to help us a lot," said five-foot-six Express shortstop Jerry Hildreth who stole three bases and scored three times.
"We can get on base and get a single and it turns into a double because we're stealing second. Everybody on the team is fast."
Hildreth plays at Colby Community College in Kansas under new Express head coach Michael Hunt. Hildreth said the fans in Moose Jaw were seeing a little Colby baseball brought north.
"That's how we do it," said Hildreth. "With coach Hunt up here, he's a great coach and he likes it when we run, so we're going to go out here and run bases.
"We brought it here and it felt pretty good to get the first win."
Hildreth and Chris Gordon both stole third base for the Express.
"We want to take advantage of any chance we get - especially with wood bats it's supposed to be low scoring as it is," said Hunt. "It's something you're going to see a lot of with the speed we have. The top of the lineup can run and the bottom of the lineup can run. It's going to be a bit of a track meet."
It was a tight pitching duel early as veterans Taylor Elder of Moose Jaw and Red Sox lefty Matt Mundfrom both settled in.
With the game tied 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth, Mundfrom began to struggle as he walked the bases loaded setting the table for a Derek Johnson two-run single which was followed by Eric Nutzhorn's RBI double to put the Express ahead 4-1.
"Walks are going to hurt you every time," said Red Sox coach head coach Rob Cherepuschak. "They got a couple of runs on us and we may have panicked a little there. You can't do that in this game."
The Express added three more runs in the sixth as Jordan Smith reached on an error and then showed impressive speed as he went from first to third base on a Jon Cotter bloop single. The Express' speed appeared to rattle the Red Sox as they Cotter and Hildreth both scored on throwing errors as they looked to steal bases.
"It's really clichÉ to say it, but we had some good key hits when we had guys in scoring position," said Hunt. "I was a 1-1 game and then boom it was a six-run cushion."
"Jordan goes to Colby with me and that's what we're taught: any ball hit when you're on first and you're looking to go to third," said Hildreth. "It's just being aggressive. That's all it is."
The Express home opener drew a nice crowd of 456 who didn't leave disappointed. The newcomers appreciated the support.
"I've never played in front of a crowd like that," said Hildreth who hails from Johnstown, Colo. "I absolutely love it."
While Cherepuschak felt his team could have done a better job of slowing down the Express, he also gave the home side a lot of credit.
"(Moose Jaw) did things right tonight. They earned it. We didn't give them the win," he said.
Elder threw six strong innings for the Express. He allowed six hits and an earned run, while striking out nine batters to earn the win.
"I was really nervous before the start of the game. There was a big crowd here," said Elder who threw one bullpen this week, but otherwise hadn't pitched since last season.
"The defence played well behind me and that helped me settle into a groove. It was nice to get some ground balls and settle in. (Catcher Derek Johnson) was a good guy to throw to. He called a great game."
Sean Buford allowed two earned runs on a hit and four walks in two innings of relief. Chad Topp made his first appearance for the Express since 2000 and walked two batter and hit two more in an inning of relief, while also striking out a pair and not allowing a hit.
The Express return to action Tuesday when they travel to Yorkton.