Stockton Ports Photobook: Opening Day

The Stockton Ports opened their season on Thursday at Banner Island Ballpark. Stockton fell to California League rival Modesto, 5-2. We captured the festivities in photos inside... ALL PHOTOS BY AMY BARRY.

The Stockton Ports mascot, Splash, entertains the crowd on Opening Day. The Ports drew more than 5.000 fans despite the threat of rain.








Shortstop Cliff Pennington was the A's first pick in last season's June draft. The athletic lead-off hitter spent most of last season with Kane County, but joined the Ports for the playoffs. He is a defensive wiz with great base-stealing capabilities.










Starting pitcher Mike Madsen got the call on Opening Day. Madsen was the ace of the Vancouver Canadians last season. The Ohio State alum breezed through three innings in his high-A debut, but ran into trouble in the fourth and sixth. He finished with five-plus innings pitched and four runs allowed. Madsen is expected to be one of the Ports' top starters this year.











Third baseman Myron Leslie makes the jump from Kane County to Stockton this season. Leslie was a Midwest League All-Star last season. He hit .275 with 15 homers for Kane County.







Catcher Landon Powell made his Stockton debut a year later than anticipated after missing the 2005 season with a torn ACL. The 2004 first round pick went 2-4 with two doubles and made a nice diving tag of a runner trying to score on a sacrifice fly.









Second baseman Gregorio Petit's bat shatters on a tough pitch. The talented Petit collected two hits on Opening Day.









The underrated Tom Everidge will be the Ports' primary first baseman this season. Everidge was the MVP of the Kane County squad last season, hitting .279 with 14 homers. He is a Northern California native and went to Sonoma State.









Manager Todd Steverson returns to Stockton for a second year. He took the Ports to the playoffs in his first season and is looking for similar results in 2006.