The London Monarchs will likely remember the first game in Canadian Baseball League history a lot longer than the Montreal Royales.

The brand new local pro ball club followed up a flashy pre-game ceremony with some old-fashioned offensive fireworks, blasting the Royales 13-3 before 5,100 fans in a nationally televised game last night at Labatt Park.

London exploded for five runs in the first inning to spark the dream opener for the home team.

That initial outburst was more than enough for Monarchs starter and former Cincinnati Reds farmhand Todd Etler, who surrendered just two hits and struck out seven batters in five sterling innings.

"After four, Willie asked if I could give him one more," sad the 29-year-old Erlanger, Ky., native. "After five, he said, 'That's it.' I wanted to stay in there -- that's the hardest thing, but I understand. It's a long season."

He didn't allow a hit until Cesar Saba's leadoff single in the fourth.

While Etler shone, Monarchs centre fielder and leadoff man Carlos Wild recorded the CBL's first hit in his initial at-bat, belting a sharp double down the left field line.

He later scored the league's first run off Montreal starter Garvin Alston, a former Colorado Rockies pitcher.

"It was a great night, a great show. The fans were awesome," said the 23-year-old from Huntsville, Tex. "We looked a lot more ready than they were. It went well for us."

The night would never get less rocky for the visitors. The Royales committed three errors in that nightmare first and trailed 13-0 before Armando Guerrero put the league's road team on the board with a solo homer off Lee Maunu in the seventh.

The game wasn't pretty (the Royales made six errors, the Monarchs two) -- but professional baseball is definitely back in the Forest City.

Canada's first pro ball circuit, the brainchild of former big league scout Tony Riviera and high-tech guru Charlton Lui, promised a flashy arrival -- and delivered.

At about 7 p.m., the players, league dignitaries, and former ball greats were introduced. Then, the Essex-Kent Regiment's 1st Battalion emerged from right field playing their pipes and drums.

Renowned singer Michael Burgess, the first person to sing at a Canadian-based World Series game, belted out the national anthem (unfortunately, his microphone struggled down the stretch) and CBL commissioner Fergie Jenkins threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds made an impressive pass over the park, which was quickly followed by a booming pyrotechnics display and the release of red and white balloons.

Finally, at 7:45, Etler threw the first pitch in CBL history -- a strike to Montreal leadoff man Sammy Torreira.

London catcher James Rutherford promptly tossed the ball into the Monarchs dugout for safekeeping. The ball, Torreira's bat and the lineup cards are heading to the St. Marys-based Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Before the game, fans milled around the park, some even decked out in London's old teams' garb -- the Tigers and the Werewolves.

At about 6:15 p.m., Lui, the league's CEO, rolled into the park in a white stretch limousine. He looked at the growing crowd and smiled.

"This is the realization of all the ideas we threw around a few years ago," he said. "It has taken a few years, but it's here. It's just great to see."

The concession stands were busy, selling hot dogs for $3, hamburgers for $3.50 and a 14-ounce cup of beer for $4.25.

But on this night, leaving your seat was a risky proposition: you might miss another Monarchs' run.

GAME GLANCE

Monarchs 13, Royales 3

The game: London scored early and very often, racking up five runs in the first inning en route to an easy win in the CBL's inaugural game.

Next: There is no game today. The same teams meet tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. at Labatt Park.

MONARCHS 13

ROYALES 3