'Tees victorious to start 2012 season

The Brevard County Manatees opened the 2012 campaign with an 11-4 win over their rival the Daytona Cubs on Thursday night, in front of 4,637 fans at Space Coast Stadium.

2011 first round pick Taylor Jungmann earned a win in his professional debut as he went five innings and allowed one run on four hits, while walking four and striking out three. Catcher Shawn Zarraga led the way at the plate as he went 4-for-5 with a double and four RBI.

Jungmann received run support early and often as the 'Tees scored seven runs of their 11 runs in the first two innings and chased Daytona starter Matt Loosen after just a third of an inning.

Brevard County benefitted from four walks in the first, en route to a three-run inning, including a back-to-back bases-loaded walks by Mike Walker and Shea Vucinich. Following the back-to-back walks, Zarraga drove in Scott Krieger with a RBI single and Loosen's night was finished.

The Manatees put another crooked number on the scoreboard in the second as they added four more runs on four hits and two more walks.

Reggie Keen also drove in four runs as he went 2-for-5 on opening night. Vucinich may have had the stat line of the night as he was 0-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI on bases-loaded walks.

Shortstop Nick Shaw was 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the leadoff spot in his Brevard County debut.

Greg Holle, Eric Marzec, Alan Williams and Casey Medlen all pitched an inning each, in relief of Jungmann, with Holle and Medlen throwing scoreless frames.

The Manatees will continue their three-game series with the Cubs on Friday night at 7:05 p.m. in Daytona Beach at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

2010 second rounder Jimmy Nelson will take the mound in his Manatees' debut. Brevard County will return home on Saturday to finish the three-game series.