GRAND JUNCTION — Pitchers as a whole normally look at the first games of the spring with a jaded eye.

That plan followed suit as batters took charge of Thursday’s games of the three-day Bill Fanning All-weather Classic.

Central pounded out nine runs in six innings of their season-opener with Ponderosa. Yet the Warriors narrowly hung on for a 9-7 win when the Mustangs made a late run in the seventh.

Likewise, Douglas County’s hitters dominated in a 14-2, five-inning, run-ahead-rule-shortened contest with Palisade. The same thing can be said of Grand Junction, which breezed to an 11-1 win over Coronado.

Hitters feasted as pitchers tried to find their spots.

Central distanced themselves from Ponderosa with four runs in the second inning then added a couple more the next frame.

Adam Hesse blasted a three-run home run over the left-field fence as the key blow of the second. RBI singles from Garrett Whiting and Joey Garcia raised the Warrior lead to 6-1 after Ponderosa got on the board with Alex Haag’s solo homer in the top of the third.

Late in the game Central took a 9-2 lead when Gary Nolan scored on a wild pitch and a Ponderosa throwing error in the sixth, followed by a two-run dinger by Travis Key.

Travis Moody earned the win, allowing two runs in five innings with seven strikeouts.

Over at Canyon View Park, Palisade found themselves in a deep hole after Douglas County opened an 8-0 lead in the first before the Bulldogs came to bat.

The Huskies sent 11 batters to the plate in the onslaught. Eight of Douglas County’s initial hitters scored. Outfielder Matt Dietrich singled and doubled with 2 RBIs in separate plate appearances in the first.

Palisade responded to the 8-0 deficit with a couple of runs in the second.

Jesse Brannon and David Casetta both scored after singling off winning pitcher Mike Larson.

Those were the only runs Palisade manufactured in the loss.

Douglas County, which had four doubles and a triple among their 14 hits, added three runs in the third and fourth.