The Auckland Tuatara slumped to a 6-1 defeat to the Perth Heat in an emotional Australian Baseball League season opener at QBE Stadium in Albany.
The match came three days after the sudden death of Tuatara third baseman Ryan Costello, who passed away in his sleep.
Auckland's players were still in shock, and paid their respects to the 23-year-old before the match. Some of the players appeared very emotional during the silence.
As a mark of respect to Costello, the Tuatara will wear his initials on their jerseys during the season.
The match was also the Tuatara's first at their new home ground at QBE Stadium.
On the pitch, the Tuatara struggled to get hits as Perth blasted home four home runs.
Perth raced out to a 2-0 lead, before the Tuatara closed the gap when Jared Walker drove in Auckland's first run in the bottom of the fourth.
Robbie Glendinning's three-run shot in the fifth made it 5-1 to Perth ahead of Kaleo Johnson blasting Perth’s fourth homer of the ballgame.
The sides meet again at the same venue on Friday at 7pm.
