OTTAWA LAKE – Whiteford’s baseball season got underway Wednesday with a loss to the Blissfield Royals.

The score was tied through five innings but the Royals broke the game open with a huge sixth inning, including a grand slam by Henry Smith.

Levi Hillard started and struck out eight for the Bobcats He also had two hits at the plate, as did Cole Giesige. Cooper Ruehle, Luke Rasor, Shea Ruddy and Logan Tammerine also had hits for the Bobcats. Giesige had Whiteford’s only extra-base hit with a double.