Butler BlueSox first baseman Patrick Ferguson (41) looks to make a play against Champion City runner Seth Gray during the BlueSox' season-opening 9-5 loss Tuesday night at Kelly Automotive Park.

For five innings, Butler High grad and Butler BlueSox pitcher Mark Gross was nearly unhittable.

The right-hander had struck out five, given up just two hits and hadn't walked a batter.

Then the sixth inning came and the third time around the Champion City order.

Things unraveled quickly for Gross and the BlueSox. Errors and a ringing double off the wall 425-feet away in center by the Kings' Louis Miceli sent Champion City on its way to a 9-5 win in the season opener for the BlueSox Tuesday night at Kelly Automotive Park.

“I thought Mark threw great,” Herald said. “He was throwing strikes and that's what you have to do, especially in a wood bat league.”

Gross went 5 1/3 innings, giving up three runs — only one earned.

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