SALISBURY TOWNSHIP-It has been weeks since many of the Carbon County Monarch baseball players suited up. Perhaps that's the reason for the Monarchs' struggles on Sunday in the opener of the Lehigh Valley Legion baseball season.

After Carbon left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, Salisbury scored four runs in the bottom half of the frame and never looked backed. The Falcons tacked on five more in the fourth inning and went on to defeat the Monarchs, 10-2, at Salisbury High School."A lot of these guys haven't played in a month," manager Don Rehrig said. "The high school season has been over for a month. We're missing a couple of key guys, but that's not an excuse. I have confidence in every guy I put out there. They've had a game under them, and this is our first game, so hopefully we can bounce back."Derek Joyce reached base on one of three Salisbury errors in the game, and then a single from Collin Haupt and walk from Gabe Wagner loaded the bases early on. But Salisbury pitcher Cole Warmkessel, who allowed one run in six innings, got out of the jam.Then Salisbury's offense gained steam. Ryan Miler and Colten Hagadus recorded two-run singles in the bottom half of the first that got Salisbury on the scoreboard."Anytime when you leave guys on ... it gives momentum to them," Rehrig said. "They rode that momentum into the bottom of the first and put together some solid at-bats. They got some key hits in spots where we didn't."Salisbury's Joey Galantini walked in the third inning to force in a run, and the Falcons added five more runs in the fourth to open up a 10-run lead.In that offensive explosion, Hagadus once again came through with a two-run hit that scored Miller and Kevin Cruz. Colin Wagner also recorded a two-run single in that inning. All five runs scored after the Monarchs got the first two batters out in the inning."Our pitchers need to do a better job of throwing strikes and working ahead in counts," Rehrig said. "I believe we had seven walks as a staff today. We saw some good things. We put the ball in play."It just comes down to getting key hits in key spots. They did that and we didn't. Innings get away from you. I think the one inning we had two outs with nobody on, and then they scored four or five to tack on."Haupt launched a deep double in the fifth inning that scored Joyce for Carbon's first run. Haupt added another RBI double in the seventh, scoring Anthony Micholik.UNTIMELY HITTING ... The biggest difference was Salisbury being able to record timely hits. Carbon County left five runners in scoring position.BUSY WEEK AHEAD ... Sunday's game opened a stretch of five game in five days for the Monarchs.Salisbury 401 500 0 - 10 11 3Carbon 000 010 1 - 2 6 0Warmkessel, Rodriguez (7) and Mailander; D. Goida, Haupt (4), Marykwas (5) and Wagner. W - Warmkessel. L - Goida.