The Tri-City ValleyCats opened the 2026 season with a 7-1 win at New Jersey on May 8.

Starting pitcher Stephen Still went six innings for Tri-City striking out 11, walking three, and giving up two hits. Nate Nabholz threw two scoreless innings striking out two in relief. Arlo Marynczak struck out two to finish the game with a scoreless ninth.

Ian Walters led Tri-City at the plate with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth and an RBI double in the top of the ninth. Cooper Hext's single drove in Brayden Jobert in the fourth. Aaron Whitley, a Niskayuna High School graduate in his first game with the ValleyCats, drove in two with a single in the top of the eighth.

Felix Stevens homered in the bottom of the second for the Jackals.

The ValleyCats play New Jersey on Saturday, May 9, first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.