By Al Cuomo

Contributing Writer

ONEONTA — Four out of five ain’t bad.

Neither is a two-run homer in the ninth inning of a season-opening baseball game.

Oneonta Tigers outfielder Brandon Timm started the 2006 New York-Penn League season on a high note Tuesday, capping his a 4-for-5 performance with a two-run shot in the top of the ninth with two out. His homer plated the final runs in a 7-6 victory over the host Tri-City ValleyCats.

"It feels awesome to get back into the swing of things and play some actual ball," said Timm, who went 1-for-4 in We[an error occurred while processing this directive]dnesday’s homer opener against the ValleyCats. "But that was (Tuesday), and today’s a new day. It was a confidence-builder; four hits are four hits."

Timm went with an outside fastball off T-C reliever Celson Polanco for a homer to right field.

"The wind was going left-to-right," Timm said. "It was an outside pitch, so I went with it and it happened to go out."

Tom Brookens looked good as a result; the second-year O-Tigers manager batted Timm in the clean-up position Tuesday.

"As a player, everybody likes to get off to a good start, and that’s exactly what he did," Brookens said. "He’s a veteran player who should be a key member of the ballclub."

Timm batted .260 with a .314 slugging percentage in 50 games for Oneonta last season, which marked Brookens’ first as a manager in professional baseball. Timm also had 14 RBIs and 28 runs in 2005.

"It’s a long season," Timm said. "We just go game-by-game. I’ll find my swing eventually and go at it with the same mentality. If the strikes fall, I’ll hit them. I’m just going to swing at what they give me."