Play Ball! Astros Open Start of 2019 MLB Campaign

PLAY BALL! Astros open start of 2019 MLB campaign
THE ASTROS ARE BACK, a clear sign that spring has arrived. The end of March also includes
another busy Friday evening of high school baseball and softball along with a host of area high
school track and field teams competing in Baytown before the run to the state finals begin in
earnest next week when district titles will be decided.
Wednesday: The day will be filled with a variety of junior high school athletic events.
Thursday: Opening Day of the 2019 Major League Baseball season arrives for the Astros, who
will be in Tampa Bay against the Rays beginning at 3:00pm. Newly re-signed ace Justin
Verlander (16-9, 2.52 ERA last season) opposes reigning American League Cy Young Award
winner Blake Snell (21-5, 1.89 ERA). A&T Sportsnet Southwest starts its coverage with a one-
hour pregame show beginning at 2:00pm.
A big day in Houston professional sports continues into the evening as the Rockets host the
Nuggets at 7:00pm. Denver won the previous meeting with a 136-122 track meet at home on
February 1. There will be territorial restrictions for this game, as those unable to watch will
have a chance to catch a replay of the Astros-Rays contest.
Friday: Coming off a 15-5 season with a 2.88 ERA, Gerrit Cole takes the mound for the Astros in
the second game of the season opening series at the Rays. Tampa Bay has yet to decide on a
starter for the contest, which begins at 6:10pm. AT&T Sportsnet Southwest begins coverage
with the pregame show at 5:30pm.
The potential future Astros and Rays will start their schedule with Clear Creek at Alvin, Clear
Falls at Dickinson and Goose Creek Memorial at Galveston Ball at 6:00pm. Santa Fe at Crosby,
Baytown Lee at Friendswood and Texas City at Galena Park are each 7:00pm starts.
The softball schedule will have Clear Creek at Clear Brook, Dickinson at Clear Lake, Clear Falls at
Clear Springs, Texas City at Galveston Ball, Friendswood at Goose Creek Memorial and Galena
Park at Santa Fe. Each game will start at 6:30pm.
Clear Brook, Clear Creek, Clear Falls, Clear Springs, Dickinson, Friendswood, Galveston Ball, La
Marque and Texas City will all be at Baytown Lee for the Rockhold Relays, while qualifiers from
Clear Brook, Clear Creek, Clear Falls and Clear Springs will be in Austin for the annual Texas
Relays held on the campus of the University of Texas.
Saturday: Hitchcock High School will hold its annual alumni baseball game starting at 2:00pm.
AT&T Sportsnet Southwest will be doing double duty as they will air the Kings at Rockets
beginning with the pregame show at 4:30pm (5:00pm game time) before kicking off coverage
of the Astros at Rays at 5:30pm (6:10pm game time).
Houston area sports fans will get a rare trifecta as KUBE 57 will air the Dynamo’s match at the
Rapids beginning at 8:00pm. It will be the club’s last match until April 13 when they host the
Earthquakes.