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Gastonia 17, Kentucky 4

The Gastonia Honey Hunters continue to put up crooked numbers in the early segment of the 2022 season.

The latest episode of power baseball occurred tonight in a big way, as four players collected three hits on the night en route to a 17-4 thumping of the Wild Health Genomes. Tonight’s win runs the streak to five straight and guarantees the club their second consecutive series win.

Those four players: Johnny Davis, Joseph Rosa, Zach Jarrett and Stuart Levy, accounted for 10 runs scored and 10 runs batted in during the contest.

For the team as a whole, the 16-hit attack was another season high for a club that has found great success inside the cozy confines of Caromont Health Park. Of the 16 hits, seven were for extra bases.

Joseph Rosa was a star of stars for the Honey Hunters, as the second baseman hits his fourth homer of the season while driving in four and scoring three times.

John Anderson tossed five innings for Gastonia, earning his first win of 2022. The left-hander allowed five hits and two earned runs, striking out two in the process.

Onas Farfan and Jesus Balaguer would do solid work in the pen for Gastonia, allowing just one run while striking out six for the Honey Hunters.

The Honey Hunters will look to sweep the Genomes tomorrow, as Deck McGuire is on the bump against Elih Villanueva in the finale of the three-game set against Wild Health. First pitch is set for 6:15pm. WGNC am1450 and 101.1fm will bring the radio coverage at 6pm, with Mike Glennon bringing the call. Tickets are available at www.gohoneyhunters.com.

Charleston 6, Long Island 5

(Charleston, W.Va., April 27, 2022) – The Long Island Ducks were defeated by the Charleston Dirty Birds 6-5 on Wednesday night in the middle game of a three-game series at Appalachian Power Park.

Rusney Castillo launched an opposite-field solo home run in the first inning off Dirty Birds starter Jordan Stephens to give the Ducks an early 1-0 lead. Dustin Woodcock doubled the lead to two in the second when he blooped a two-out RBI single into left field. Castillo then scored on a throwing error by Mike Hart in the third, increasing the Ducks advantage to 3-0.

The Dirty Birds closed to within 3-2 in the bottom of the third on back-to-back RBI doubles from Juan Perez and Nick Longhi off Ducks starter Brett Kennedy. Deven Marrero responded with a two-out RBI double to left-center in the fourth to push the lead back up to two. However, a two-out, two-run triple to right-center by Hart in the sixth tied the game at four.

Joe DeCarlo restored the Ducks lead in the seventh with a two-out RBI single up the middle. It stayed that way until the bottom of the ninth when Charleston scored two runs to walk off with a 6-5 win. Scott Kelly’s RBI single and Longhi’s solo homer did the damage.

Neither starter factored into the decision. Kennedy pitched five innings of two-run ball, allowing six hits and one walk while striking out three. Stephens lasted five innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Kit Scheetz (2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing a hit and a walk while striking out three. Tyler Webb (0-1) took the loss, conceding two runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning.

Castillo led the Flock with three hits, an RBI and two runs. DeCarlo added two hits, an RBI, two runs and a walk.

The Ducks and Dirty Birds wrap up their three-game set on Thursday morning. First pitch is scheduled for 10:35 a.m. at Appalachian Power Park. Fans can follow all the action on the Long Island Ducks Broadcast Network. Live streaming HD video and audio will be available via BoxCast on LIDucks.com as well as on the Ducks official Facebook page and YouTube channel. Left-hander Bennett Parry (0-0, 0.00) toes the rubber for the Ducks against Dirty Birds southpaw Joe Testa (0-0, 7.20).

Long Island returns home on Friday, May 6, to begin a three-game set against the Lancaster Barnstormers. Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m., with the Fairfield Properties Ballpark gates opening at 5:35 (5:20 for full season ticket holders). It’s an Angela’s Pizza Friday, and a player on the Barnstormers will be designated as the K-Man. If he strikes out during the game, all fans can show their game ticket to receive 20% off their order of $25 or more throughout the rest of the weekend at Angela’s Pizzeria of Islip. Tickets for the game, and all Ducks games, are available by visiting the Fairfield Properties Ballpark box office, calling (631) 940-TIXX or CLICKING HERE.

The Long Island Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a Professional Partner League of Major League Baseball. Over 8 million fans have enjoyed the Ducks brand of affordable, fun entertainment at Fairfield Properties Ballpark since inception in 2000. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).

High Point 14, Lancaster 0

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers used 14 hits to score 14 runs in a 14-0 win over the visiting Lancaster Barnstormers Wednesday night at Truist Point.

High Point’s Zander Wiel hit two home runs, an inside-the-park homer in the second inning and a traditional way over the fence round-tripper in the eighth to account for four RBI.

The Rockers set a franchise record for largest margin of victory while scoring the third-most runs in a game.

Justin Nicolino (1-0) was brilliant on the mound for the Rockers, tossing six innings and allowing just three hits while striking out eight and not issuing a walk. Lancaster starter Dominic DiSabatino (0-2) took the loss.

Every Rocker hitter had at least one hit. Wiel led all hitter with four RBI while catcher Chris Proctor drove in three, and Tyler Ladendorf and Johnny Field had two RBI each.

The Rockers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Jerry Downs blasted a home run to right, his second of the year.

In the bottom of the second, Wiel led off with a fly ball to right. The ball hit the wall as rightfielder Mark Zagunis battled the sun. The ball rebounded back towards the infield as Wiel steamed around the bases for the first inside-the-park home run in Truist Point history, staking the Rockers to a 2-0 lead. With two outs in the second, Chris Proctor singled and back-to-back doubles by Jay Gonzalez and Field expanded High Point’s lead to 4-0.

“When I was rounding second, I thought I had an easy triple,” said Wiel about his inside-the-park homer. “But I saw Jamie waving me home and I said ’90 more feet. I’m going to be gassed but here I go.’”

High Point made it a 5-0 advantage in the fourth when Ben Aklinski was hit by a pitch leading off the frame. He moved to second on an infield ground out by Ladendorf then scored when Proctor lifted a Texas League double to left that spun into foul territory.

High Point tallied four times in the fifth with Ladendorf driving in two with a triple and Logan Morrison adding an RBI double. In the seventh, the Rockers scored twice more and then finished with three runs in the eighth. A single by Michael Russell and a walk to Morrison set the table for Wiel’s three-run blast to left.

“Out bats really woke up tonight,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “We were grinding out some runs early in the game then Zander really broke out. A true inside-the-park homer. I haven’t seen one of those in a while.

“Defensively, a couple of plays Jay Gonzalez made in the outfield saved us a couple of runs. Justin (Nicolino) was outstanding from the first pitch and he pitched all the way up to the 90-pitch mark and really threw the ball well. And the two kids each got to pitch and that was outstanding.”

The two kids Keefe referred to were a couple of rookies who made their professional debuts vs. Lancaster. Righthander Max McDowell pitched the eighth inning for the Rockers and retired the Barnstormers with just one walk. Gavin Weyman pitched a one-two-three inning in the ninth. The pair signed with the Rockers on Wednesday to fill a hole in the bullpen left by minor injuries to relievers Austin Glorius and Johnny Barbato. Weyman is a former college pitcher at Towson who now works with the High Point University baseball team. McDowell pitched at St. Michael’s College in Vermont and was noticed by the Rockers staff while playing with the barnstorming Black Sox during an exhibition game in High Point.

High Point and Lancaster will conclude their three-game set on Thursday at 6:35 at Truist Point.  The Rockers will send righthander Cooper Casad (0-0, 1.50) to the mound to face Lancaster lefty Augie Sylk (0-1, 9.00).

Lexington 13, York 12 (10)

(April 27, 2022 – Lexington, Ky.):  The York Revolution stormed back to force extras with a three-run ninth, but dropped a 13-12 heartbreaker in 10 innings to the Lexington Legends on Wednesday afternoon in front of 5,867 fans at Wild Health Field.  Carlos Franco homered and drove in five in the loss, while Courtney Hawkins homered twice including a walk-off two-run shot for the Legends and drove in seven runs in the slugfest.

York jumped to a big lead, scoring four runs on five hits in the top of the first inning, their biggest outburst of the season to date.  Yefri Perez and Troy Stokes Jr. got things started with singles, and Melky Mesa drilled a two-run double to right-center to open the scoring on the first pitch he faced this season.  Franco later doubled to the same area producing another run, and Elmer Reyes looped a run-scoring knock into center for the 4-0 start.

The Revs added another run on an error in the third to go up 5-0 before Legends starter J.J. Hoover settled down to retire his final seven batters, lasting five innings.

Lexington began to chip away with an unearned run in the bottom of the third on a sac fly by Jose Briceno, but Revs starter Nick Travieso was strong, carrying a 5-1 lead into the fifth.

Things began to turn when Cesar Cuevas busted up a potential double play turn on a slide at second, resulting in an error and an ensuing one-out rally that saw Lexington score three times with RBI singles by Tillman Pugh and Briceno sandwiching a Hawkins RBI double as the Legends pulled within 5-4.

York got a big run back in the top of the sixth as Lenin Rodriguez drove a two-out RBI double to the gap in right-center, increasing the margin to 6-4.

That lead evaporated in the bottom of the sixth as Hawkins launched a two-out, three-run homer to left-center to put the Legends ahead 7-6.

York again rallied in the seventh as the seesaw battle was on.  The Revs set the table with singles from Stokes Jr. and Mesa before a walk to Nellie Rodriguez loaded the bases.  Franco drew a bases loaded walk to tie it and Reyes legged out an attempted double play allowing the go-ahead run to score at 8-7.

The Legends landed a big blow in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four times for a commanding 11-8 lead.  Dominic Bethancourt crossed with the tying run on a throwing error, while the rally also included a Philip Ervin RBI single, a bases loaded walk to Pugh, and a Hawkins sac fly to left.

The Revs managed one last gasp in the ninth.  After Mesa forced closer Austin Adams to throw 10 pitches before recording the first out, York’s offense awoke with a huge rally.  Nellie Rodriguez sparked things with a line drive single to left and Franco tagged an opposite field two-run homer to left, his second long ball in as many games.  Jack Kenley ripped a base hit to right and Reyes lashed a double down the left field line.  With two outs, pinch-hitter Carlos Castro roped a game-tying single to left, as the Revs suddenly pulled even, 11-11.

York could only manage one run in the top of the 10th as Franco beat an attempted double play turn for a 12-11 lead.

Hawkins put a quick end to the day in the bottom half, connecting on closer Jim Fuller’s second pitch for an opposite field walk-off two-run homer to right.

The 12 runs and 16 hits marked season-highs for the Revs.  Franco’s five RBI tied his Revs career-best, while Mesa’s two-run double in the first gave him 240 RBI in his Revs career, second-most all-time.

York righty Alex Sanabia faces Lexington’s Daniel Corcino in Thursday’s series finale at 6:35 p.m.  Revs fans can catch the action live on SportsRadio 98.9 FM & 1350 WOYK, 989woyk.com, The New WOYK app, and the WOYK YouTube channel beginning at 6:15 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.

Southern Maryland 9, Staten Island 5

(Waldorf, MD, April 27, 2022) On Opening Day, the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs’ players rode on boats during the introduction and rode out with a 9-5 comeback win over the Staten Island FerryHawks. 

Daryl Thompson started the game for the Blue Crabs and ran into trouble in the first inning.  With one out, Angel Aguilar singled and later advanced to third on an error from Rubi Silva.  With one out and runners on the corners, Kevin Krouse bounced a single through the left side for a base hit, giving the FerryHawks a 1-0 lead.   

The FerryHawks tacked on another run in the fourth inning, to go up 2-0.  The Blue Crabs responded in the bottom of the fifth.  Michael Baca ripped a fly ball to left-center field, scoring Ryan Haug to get the Blue Crabs on the board. Later in the inning, with runners on first and third, Rubi Silva punched a single into center field, tying the game at two.  Jared Walker then drove in Jack Sundberg on a sac fly, putting Southern Maryland up 3-2. With two outs and Silva on second base, David Harris launched a double off the Mini Monster, giving the Blue Crabs a 4-2 lead. 

Daryl Thompson exited the game after five innings, allowing one earned run and six hits. In the top of the sixth, the FerryHawks answered. Bradley Roney issued a couple of walks and hit batsmen to load the bases.  With two outs, Kevin Krouse came through again.  He roped a double down the third baseline, scoring all three runners, and giving the FerryHawks a 5-4 lead. 

The Blue Crabs bullpen was terrific from there.  Dalton Geekie and Endrys Briceno (W, 1-0) did not allow a run and combined for three strikeouts across two innings. 

In the bottom of the eighth, Southern Maryland came back.  After Alex Vargas (L, 0-1) recorded the first two outs, he issued two walks and was replaced by Williams Jerez.  Jerez walked the next batter to load the bases.  With two outs and the bases loaded, Rubi Silva rocketed a three-RBI double into the left-center field gap, giving the Blue Crabs a 7-5 lead.  The Blue Crabs extended the lead to 9-5 when Alex Crosby slapped a single into left field, scoring Rubi Silva and Jared Walker. 

In the top of the ninth inning, Mat Latos entered the game with a four-run lead.  Latos battled through a leadoff walk, striking out the next two batters and forcing a ground out back to the mound to end the game.  

With the win, the Blue Crabs move to 4-1 on the season and have won four straight games.  They return to Regency Furniture Stadium tomorrow at 6:35 for game two against the Staten Island FerryHawks.