It's been a long eight year journey for the Dragons as they returned to Premier Division action as it is now known on Saturday at Napier Park.

Missing some of our regulars who were away for a pre planned end of season trip for the winter team we gave a big account of ourselves against last seasons runners-up Waverley. It didn't take long for the Dragons to say 'We're back' as lead off Brendan McDonald promptly hit a line drive into the left centre field alley fence on the third pitch of the game. Following his long single that nearly got out, McDonald was left stranded along with Owen de Vries and Nic Unland as we failed to get on the board. The 2nd inning saw us score first with a lead off single to Dakota Gibson and a base on balls to co-coach Chris Nicholas. Travis Cutt making a rare start at third base had a great game, taking a blinding diving catch later and then touching the base to end a threat in the 4th, laid down a perfect bunt to advance the runners. McDonald then lined a single to centre scoring Gibson followed by Jean Alvarado knocking a deep sac fly to right field, bringing in Nicholas.

Making his first start in the summer 1sts young lefty Aimon Dowling performed admirably and continued to fight the whole way through his outing. Three scoreless innings were unfortunately underscored by an erratic second inning that did the damage for the day.

de Vries launched a moon shot (pictured in the Weekly Wrap) leading off the 5th as we kept the battle up to Waverley whilst club stalwart Simon Fitzmaurice took over on the hill. After not being able to pitch last summer and fresh off his league MVP A3 campaign in winter, Fitzmaurice would pitch the remainder of the game.

Cutt led off the 6th with a walk and he would be brought in by hits to Alvarado and de Vries making it a 7-4 game. But there would be further life left in the Dragons as new player and short stop Takumi Tanaka launched a home run in the 9th which also brought in Billy Findlay. However that's where the game would finish with a narrow 8-6 loss to the Wildcats.

The Dragons will look to get in the W column at 3.30 this Saturday versus Moorabbin in our first home game for the year.