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Mud Hens drop opener 3-1 at Fifth Third Field

After a winter that seemed to never end, Opening Day finally arrived for the Toledo Mud Hens on Friday. The team lost 3-1 to Louisville. Fans had a great time downtown despite the loss and rain throughout the afternoon.
Opening Day for the Mud Hens is finally here and the whole city is excited.
TARTA will be running its Muddy Shuttle service for fans for just $1.
The pregame ceremony featured a tribute to Toledo's fallen heroes, as well as bagpipes playing "Amazing Grace."
The sun finally peeks out at Fifth Third Field.
Muddy is ready for the season!

TOLEDO, OH (Toledo News Now) - After a winter that seemed to never end, Opening Day finally arrived for the Toledo Mud Hens on Friday. The team lost 3-1 to Louisville. Fans had a great time downtown despite the loss and rain throughout the afternoon.

The tarp was removed from the infield early Friday morning. Crews worked hard all winter long to take care of the field, even installing heating domes to melt the snow.

The Swamp Shop features a majority of new items for fans this year.

Also new is The Bird Cage's new menu, featuring appetizers, sandwiches and desserts. But local organizations can also benefit from Mud Hens diners. About 350 seasonal employees work at Fifth Third Field, but about 150 are volunteer groups. Whenever the organizations participate at one of the restaurants, they can take their earnings to support their cause. Last season, more than $160,000 were raised for local groups. For the last 12 seasons, funds topped the $2 million mark.

The Opening Day line-up:

1-Carrera (RF)

2-Perez (SS)

3-Martinez (LF)

4-Hessman (3B)

5-Guez (DH)

6-Lennerton (1B)

7-McCann (C)

8-Fields (CF)

9-Worth (2B)

The Mud Hens honored Toledo's fallen heroes, Stephen Machcinski and James Dickman, who died in the line of duty back in January. The fire department's pipes and drums unit played and firefighters lined the field in tribute before first pitch. Fire officials say Machcinski never missed an Opening Day. Dickman's niece and nephew threw the ceremonial first pitch.

"People talk about Toledo. People who don't live here talk about Toledo. They don't have a clue. This city has pulled together in ways I never thought possible," said Toledo Fire Lieutenant George Simko, who also threw one of the ceremonial first pitches.

TARTA's Muddy Shuttle service resumes this season. The Muddy Shuttle costs $1 per person and kids under 6 ride for free. The buses will pick up riders at nine locations around northwest Ohio.

Before you head to the ballpark, consider downloading a new app called Inside the Park. It's run by Minor League Baseball and gives you all sorts of links at your fingertips, such as a stadium map, game schedule and upcoming promotions.

Learn more about tickets and upcoming promotions here.

It's a doubleheader for Toledo. The Mud Hens play at 4 p.m. but the Walleye play at 7 p.m. Find out how police and businesses prepared for Friday's Opening Day.

Opening Day is nearly a holiday in the Glass City. Celebrate with the kids this Sunday for the Mud Hens' Kids Opening Day.

The Hens have two more home games this weekend. They'll play the Bats Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Click here for tickets and more information.
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