It's opening day

Well it looks like the weather is going to hold off long enough for the Eau Claire Express to at least get their season opener underway. It's cloudy and drizzly but I think we're going to have baseball at Carson Park.

That being said, here's a few game notes:

*Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez threw out the first pitch prior to the game. All the Badgers coaches – in town for Badger Days at Carson Park – also were introduced to the crowd by Matt Lepay, the radio voice of the Badgers.

*The Express unveiled their new alternate jerseys. The more light-weight burnt orange tops feature black shoulders and a logo on the breast. Last season’s orange unies were heavier and had “Express” printed on the chest.

*Woodchucks manager Jim Gantner has little choice but to forgo the DH. Wisconsin has only five position players available for the game, meaning starting pitcher Zac Moore has to hit for himself, right-hander Bobby Pritchett is playing center field, righty Chad Moreland is playing left field and lefty Eric Dayton is at first. All four bench players are pitchers.

*Right-hander Chris Odegaard will start tonight’s game for the Express, while the Woodchucks will counter with righty Kyle Gumieny. Odegaard, a hard-throwing 6-foot-3 sophomore from Minnesota-Mankato, went 1-0 with a 1.26 ERA in three appearances last summer for the Express.

- Joe Ziemer