If we’ve learned anything about this ’09 edition of the Naturals so far, it’s that this group is going to be exciting to watch on a daily basis.

They will play hard and scrap until the final out is made and if they get it done like yesterday then they are rewarded with a win.

There have been some rocky moments so far, see 11 actual errors in the first 3 games and several other plays that could/should have been made, pitching that at times has been less than expected but on the plus side, they’ve shown good aptitude at the plate.

This was not a team that was expected to score much offensively or show much power, but the offense has been a bright spot so far and it was the power game yesterday that created the come-from-behind win as the Naturals rallied from 4 down.

While it’s still to early to call it a trend, it’s good to see the homerun ball from the Naturals early in the season.  Brian McFall (3 doubles, 2 HRs so far) lined a 3-run shot off the foul pole in left to cut it to a 1-run game.  Then leading off the 9th, Jeff Howell homered the opposite way to tie it and cap his 4-4 day at the plate.  And finally Mario Lisson’s lead-off bomb in the 10th turned out to be the difference.

That’s now 5 homers for NWA in 4 games this year and some very bright signs from these young hitters at the plate.

Credit also the Naturals pitching yesterday.  After a rocky start, Blake Wood retired the final 10 hitters he faced and really looked dominant in those final 3-plus innings.  Gilbert de la Vara and Greg Holland each tossed two scoreless innings in relief allowing for the offense to get it going.

After the way a couple of the games in San Antonio went, yesterday’s victory, especially how it happened, was a very welcome feeling.

Oh, and for those of you wanting to hate on our traveling party, the weather is absolutely perfect again here today.   Temperatures expected in the upper-80s, light breeze, no clouds, low humidity.  And to top it off, I have a spectacular view of Corpus Christi Bay as I look out my hotel window.  Enough bragging for now, talk to you later this week.