Howlers drop home opener against Fredericksburg

Hill City Howlers fall 9-4 in their first home game of the season

Apr. 8, 2026 at 3:05am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in progress, with the players, field, and crowd broken down into abstract, angular shapes and planes of color.The Howlers' home opener was an intense, back-and-forth affair that ultimately slipped away from the new minor league franchise.Fredericksburg Today

The Hill City Howlers lost their home opener against the Fredericksburg Nationals 9-4 on Tuesday evening. Despite a strong performance from starting pitcher Will McCausland, the Nationals rallied late with a two-run homer from Ronny Cruz and a grand slam from Nick Peoples to pull away for the victory.

Why it matters

This was the Howlers' first home game since joining the minor league as an expansion team. A loss in their home debut is a disappointing start, but the team will look to bounce back and build momentum in front of their home fans throughout the season.

The details

The Howlers jumped out to an early 2-1 lead, but the Nationals regained the advantage with RBI hits from Ronny Cruz in the 3rd and 5th innings. Yeiferth Castillo hit the first home run in Howlers franchise history to tie the game at 3-3 in the 6th, but Fredericksburg broke the game open with a five-run 7th and 8th innings to secure the victory.

  • The game took place on Tuesday evening, April 8, 2026.
  • The Howlers were celebrating their Opening Day festivities, including the first of 13 fireworks shows scheduled for the season.

The players

Will McCausland

The starting pitcher for the Hill City Howlers, who recorded a professional-high 8 strikeouts in the losing effort.

Ronny Cruz

The Fredericksburg Nationals outfielder, who finished a single shy of the cycle and drove in 3 runs, including a 2-run homer in the 7th inning.

Yeiferth Castillo

The Hill City Howlers infielder, who hit the first home run in franchise history to tie the game at 3-3 in the 6th inning.

Nick Peoples

The Fredericksburg Nationals outfielder, who hit a grand slam in the 8th inning to put the game out of reach for the Howlers.

Isaac Lyon

The Fredericksburg Nationals pitcher, who earned the win in relief.

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What they’re saying

“We came up short today, but I'm proud of the way our guys fought and kept us in the game. We'll learn from this and come back stronger for our next home game.”

— Will McCausland, Howlers starting pitcher

What’s next

The Howlers will look to bounce back in their next home game on Friday, April 11th against the Lynchburg Hillcats.

The takeaway

Despite the home opener loss, the Howlers showed promise and resilience in their first game at their new ballpark. With a talented roster and passionate fan base, the team will look to build momentum and contend for a playoff spot in their inaugural season.