Fort Washington (AP) - Pristine softball weather greeted the opener for both teams as their 2017 campaigns got underway.

The Kings playing as the away team started the affair, but struggled in the first inning as United retired the first three batters.  United responded by jumping out to a quick 3-run start behind steady hitting in the bottom of the frame.  

Kings shortstop Tim Stonehouse provided a lead-off home run to open the second inning as he displayed the youthful vigor that seems in endless supply to the veteran.  A second run would be plated the old fashioned way behind respectable hitting from the middle of the order, led by Chad Morris, Dan Johnson, and Jon Shope.  Ultimately the United defense stifled any momentum.

United hit well and added the balance of their offense by the end of the fourth as the Kings tried to mix up their pitching with veteran Steve Brandenburg replacing Josh Chapman who is returning from a seven year absence.  The King defense respresented by no less than three different churches solidified in the second half and disrupted any further offensive efforts by United.  

The Kings would threaten throughout the remainder of the game, even adding another home run from from Stonehouse, but United's defense proved too much in the end even providing an early-season double play that you would expect to see more frequently later in the year.