The newest members of the San Rafael Pacifics showed some flash during Thursday’s Pecos League opening night victory over the visiting Santa Rosa Scuba Divers.

Georgetown College grad Payton Rios, a Stockton native, was roughed up in his debut as he was plunked in his first two trips to the plate by Santa Rosa starter Francisco Leon. But Rios reached base four times and scored twice during the Pacifics’ 10-5 win over the Scuba Divers, formerly the Vallejo Seaweed.

“I’m thrilled to just get the opportunity to play, to just have fun,” Rios said. “I just want to play to the best of my ability to help the ballclub.”

The Pacifics are scheduled to host the Martinez Sturgeon on Saturday for a 6 p.m. first pitch at Albert Park.

The stands were filled for Thursday’s opener with the families and host families for Pacifics players, as well as members of San Anselmo Softball, some of whom threw out the ceremonial first pitch. The softball players even taught the Pacifics how to do their “Pump it up” cheer before the game. Whether or not the cheer catches on with the team, it certainly didn’t hurt the Pacifics’ performance on Thursday.

With their parents in attendance, brrothers Fred and Aki Buckson, hitting in the two and three spots, gave San Rafael an instant injection of excitement. Fred Buckson was 3 for 5 and scored two San Rafael runs. Aki Buckson got on base in all five plate appearances, and scored three runs. Rookie catcher Gino Hutchinson was 2 for 5 and drove in three runs for the Pacifics.

“You’ve got the new guys getting their feet wet,” said Chris Johnson, who is taking over as manager full time this year, after acting as assistant manager last year with Austin Fitzpatrick. “I just told them, ‘Go out there and secure the ball, don’t make errors and you have a good chance of winning.’ That’s pretty much what they did.”

Pacifics veteran starter Jake Dent rang up five strikeouts and held Santa Rosa to four hits across six innings. Short reliever Marcus Watkins struck out five in two innings of work and Richard Kiel closed out the game with a 1-2-3 ninth.

“We have a lot of returners,” Johnson said. “We’re getting guys back from two years ago who were big pieces of that (Pecos League) championship run. We brought them back to make the transition easier for the younger guys and to show them how we run things here.”

The Pacifics took advantage of the Scuba Divers’ misadventures to score eight early runs on four hits and three errors.

John Bicos drew a bases-loaded walk in the first inning, and Rios took a ball to the ankle to force in another run. Aki Buckson scored on an error, and two more Pacifics runs scored on a single by Hutchinson when Santa Rosa centerfielder Trey Fletcher missed the mark with his throw to third.

Back-to-back Santa Rosa errors helped load the bases for the Pacifics in the second inning. A sacrifice fly by Bicos scored leadoff hitter Kyle Guerra. Santa Rosa second baseman Mickey Nunes tried to get too fancy with his relay to short, and the errant throw allowed both Buckson brothers to score for an 8-0 San Rafael lead.

“It felt good to come out here and play, coming off spring ball in college,” said Fred Buckson, who was a .300 hitter during three seasons at Orange County’s Vanguard University.

Aki Buckson made an impressive debut with the Pacifics in 2024, hitting .333 through 44 games to help San Rafael claim the Pacific Division pennant.

“It’s great to play with my brother again. I think that’s the first time we’ve played together in nearly 10 years,” said Fred Buckson, who last played with his older brother at Central Kitsap High in Silver Hill, Wash.

The Scuba Divers did threaten to rally in the second inning after Bryce Hayman’s RBI single. With runners on second and third and one out, the next two Scuba Divers batters grounded to the left side of the infield. Fred Buckson, playing shortstop made a grab for a solid putout at first for the second out. Rios then lunged to snare a hard hit ball from Michael Pavelchak and turned it around for the putout to end the inning and the rally.

Santa Rosa managed to put together four runs in the eighth inning. Jacob Savoy scored on a single by Hayman. With the bases loaded and two outs, the ball rolled under the glove of Pacifics first baseman Telly Hill to allow three runs to score.