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Taking advantage of sunshine, not snowfall, the Maryland School for the Deaf softball team used a flurry of offense to beat host St. John's Catholic Prep on Thursday, winning 24-2.

Senior Michelle Mansfield-Horn pitched the win, striking out four while allowing only one hit and two runs over four innings.

"I couldn't ask for better sunshine and breeze," Mansfield-Horn said. "The weather got me pumped up from the second I woke up this morning, because I knew it [was] going to be a good ballgame."

The key to the Orioles season-opening win was a 10-run first inning, when the team strung together six walks, three hits and 11 stolen bases to take an early lead.

Tarja Lewis finished as the team's top hitter, going 3 for 4 with a triple. Liv Polzin was 2 for 3 with a triple, while Tandy Lewis also had a triple. Claire Tucker added two RBI and Christy Hediger chipped in a double.

MSD head coach Mathis Hediger, originally from Texas, was particularly excited about the opening day weather.

"I told my daughter that it would be nice to have Texas weather here," Hediger said.

As a team, the Orioles got ready for the season with a heavy load of indoor practice.

"Practicing inside isn't so annoying because all the time I put in practice will benefit me and the team when the sun finally wakes up in the spring," Mansfield-Horn said.

SJCP's highlights were limited, despite an early, promising start. Mason Kersey tripled in the first at-bat of the game, and came around to score. In the second inning, Emma Davis opened with a walk and scored on a fielder's choice. The game was ended after four innings by mercy rule.

MSD won its first National Deaf Prep Championship in softball in 2008. While they didn't repeat in 2009, the team is angling for another crown in 2010.

"We expect to have a winning season," Hediger said. "Since I took over seven years ago, we've been winning. Before I took over, it was losing seasons for three years."