TRAVERSE CITY -- Bryan Rembisz is used to people misspelling his name.
Frontier League foes might get used to putting a lot of Ks in it.
Rembisz, whose name is misspelled on his Beach Bums trading card shown in the team program, pitched six strong innings to lead the Traverse City Beach Bums to a 9-5 victory over the Midwest Sliders -- the team's first opening day win in franchise history.
"That's always how it is," he said of the "Rembitz" card. "Everybody always misspells my name."
Rembisz worked fast, with his pace earning the respect of his teammates as much as his pitching on a cold day.
The Bums' fielders were able to head back to the protection of the dugout pretty quickly, as Rembisz set down the Sliders in order in the first three innings, striking out the side in the third inning.
Left fielder Troy Ferguson notched the Sliders' first hit, legging out an infield single with one out in the fourth. Lester Contreras followed with a single through the infield, but Rembisz got out of the inning when Angel Colon grounded into a 4-6-3 double play.
Rembisz -- who was 7-0 with a 1.87 ERA last year in TC -- struck out six in six innings of work.
"I was just spotting my fastball, pitching to contact," he said. "On a cold day like this, the hitters can get a little timid. If you get it on the end of the bat, it'll hurt."
Meanwhile, Midwest starter Kyle Kearcher lasted just 21/3 innings, but didn't get much help from his defense, which committed four errors while he was on the mound. Reliever Javier Fiallo came in an immediately was charged with an error on a pickoff attempt.
The Beach Bums gave Rembisz a lot of support, busting out for nine runs in the first four innings. The Sliders didn't score until sixth when they managed two runs in the sixth off Rembisz. They added a run in the seventh off reliever Zac Cole, who struck out two in the frame. Ted Gjeldum surrendered two runs in the eighth and Nick Pepper came on in the ninth and allowed only an infield single to Rob Vernon.
Mike Epping supplied the Bums with a 2-0 lead in the first, driving a two-strike pitch into left field to bring home Mike Goetz and Jake Whitesides. Goetz got on with an infield single and Whitesides was hit by the first offering from Kyle Kearcher.
Traverse City added another run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Goetz.
Whitesides led off the third with a triple, grabbing the bag at third to avoid sliding past the base. Epping followed with an RBI single, advanced to second on a balk and stole third without a throw. Epping -- who drove in three runs on the night -- came in when Pat Perry's grounder rolled back in fair territory. Brad Miller's long triple over the head of Pace in center brought Perry home and Young followed with an RBI single to right for a 7-0 lead.
Whitesides and Epping walked to lead off the fourth and Whitesides came in on a sacrifice groundout by Perry. Epping scored when Colon was unable to handle Kyle Maunus' line drive to third for a 9-0 deficit.
Young, Goetz and Epping finished with two hits apiece.
NOTES: Young was caught stealing when he slid over the bag on the new turf. ... Ryan Gehring takes the mound for the Beach Bums tonight against Midwest's Joey Doan. TC's David Nathanson gets the start on Friday to conclude the three-game set.
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