Mammoths Win USPBL Season Opener
May 15th, 2026
UTICA, Mich. – The Westside Woolly Mammoths (1-0) opened the 2026 season in comeback fashion Friday night, rallying past the Eastside Diamond Hoppers (0-1), 7-3, after scoring seven unanswered runs at UWM Field on Opening Day.
After falling behind 3-0 in the third inning on a two-run home run from Yan Fernandez, the Mammoths answered immediately in the fifth. Chase Jans continued his hot night at the plate with an RBI single before Dante Morton tied the game with a two-run hit to even things at 3-3.
The Mammoths took the lead for good in the sixth inning when Tommy Stevenson delivered an RBI double to score Dalton Pearson. Stevenson finished with a game-high three RBIs and two doubles in the win.
Insurance runs came in the eighth and ninth innings as the Mammoths offense continued to pressure Hoppers pitching. Jans scored twice and collected three hits, while Pearson added two hits and an RBI. The Mammoths totaled 11 hits and drew seven walks offensively.
On the mound, reliever Reilly Shafer was dominant out of the bullpen, tossing 4.2 scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out four to earn the win. Connor Gausselin closed the door with a scoreless ninth inning.