The Ballers fell to the Range Riders on Saturday night, 3 to 2, with the tying run stranded on third in the final inning. As a fan, I have mixed feelings about this — it was an entertaining game with a close finish and exciting plays. So, I definitely got my money’s worth. But unlike the last two games, there were a number of small things that could easily have gone the Ballers way and given them the win.

On Friday night, the Ballers fell to the Range Riders by the narrow margin of 3 to 1 … well, 3 touchdowns to 1 touchdown … meaning they lost 21 to 7. Being on the wrong side of a blowout is never fun, but here’s a thought: mentally, it can be easier to lose by a bunch than to lose by a bit.

After two one-run affairs to start the series, the third game was a straight-up blowout: Oakland Ballers 4, Glacier Range Riders 15. As such, I thought I’d focus on two little details — they didn’t impact the result at all, but do illustrate how there’s always something to watch for, even if your team is down double digits.

The Ballers took their second game against the Range Riders, again by a single run (3 - 2), but the similarities of the two games end there. In contrast to the rapid-fire scoring of the first game, this one was about pitching and defense. Same teams, one night removed, and you get a very different kind of tension and excitement. That’s baseball for you.

The first regular season game of the Oakland Ballers franchise is in the books, an exciting 7 to 6 win over a resilient Glacier Range Riders squad in Kalispell, Montana. The game was like the first chapter of a novel, or the pilot episode of a tv series: I came in not knowing who any of the characters were, or their backstories, or what narratives are going to be important going forward.