Players are introduced for the first-ever game at ONT Field. (Photos courtesy of Timothy J. Sheridan)
By Timothy J. Sheridan
Mayor Pro Tem, Lake Elsinore
Director of Broadcasting, Lake Elsinore Storm
Special to Menifee 24/7
The Lake Elsinore Storm opened its 2026 season in historic fashion late last week, serving as the first opponent to Minor League Baseball’s (MiLB) newest franchise, the Ontario Tower Buzzers, and winning the very first game at the brand-new ONT Field in Ontario.
The series got started on Thursday, April 2 with the Storm defeating the Tower Buzzers 7-5 before 6,611 fans in ONT Field’s inaugural game. Storm starter Bryan Balzer was very effective over four innings, striking out 7 Buzzers, and giving up just one run, a home run to the Buzzers’ Brendan Tunink. Storm catcher Ty Harvey had the big hit in the Storm’s 5-run third inning — a three-run double that put Lake Elsinore ahead to stay.
The game was interesting for other reasons as well. Storm batters walked 12 times, struck out 14 times, and stole 7 bases in the win. On the other side of the diamond, Buzzers batters also struck out 14 times.
The game ended on an unusual play when the Buzzers’ Jaron Elkins was thrown out trying to steal second base by catcher Harvey to shortstop Jorge Quintana, who made a magnificent play catching the one-hop throw and tagging the sliding Elkins while being knocked down. The ending was reminiscent to the ending of the 1926 World Series when St Louis Cardinals catcher Bob O’Farrell threw out Yankees superstar Babe Ruth attempting to steal second base with 2 outs in the 9th inning of the decisive seventh game, which preserved the Cardinals’ first World Championship.
As for game 2, if game 1 of the series was the “best of times,” quoting Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities,” the second contest was the “worst of times”.
The Buzzers beat up on the Storm 16-0 on Friday, April 3. Three Ontario pitchers held Storm batters to just three hits, while striking out 11, earning the Buzzers its first-ever franchise win.
Game 3 of the series was more competitive, but the Buzzers made it two in a row when Brendan Tunink and Mairo Martinus hit back-to-back home runs in the eighth inning to secure a 6-4 victory on Saturday, April 4.
The game featured the Storm’s first home run of the season from center fielder Ryan Wideman, who clubbed a shot over the left field wall in the fifth inning, as well as Storm pitching, which recorded 18 strikeouts against Buzzers hitters among the 24 outs Ontario made in the game — a stunning 75 percent.
In the end, the Buzzers won the series 2 games to 1 and welcomed more than 16,600 fans to the brand-new ONT Field.
The Storm will open its 2026 home schedule on Tuesday, April 7 against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes at Diamond Stadium. Game is scheduled to start at 6:05 pm and will feature a final appearance from Kaz Egan, the Storm’s emcee over the last seven seasons, who has accepted a new job with the Savanah Bananas.
For tickets, visit tickets@stormbaseball.com or visit the Diamond Stadium Box Office prior to the game.
