Gastonia 7, High Point 2

Gastonia followed up its first half championship game loss with a commanding 7-2 win against High Point on Saturday night, starting off the second half 1-0.

The Honey Hunters got off to an early lead after some tremendous baserunning by the bottom of the order.

Eric De La Rosa made his first start for Gastonia, and it was a phenomenal one.

The 26-year-old left fielder walked in his first plate appearance. After advancing to second on a Pedro Gonzalez single, De La Rosa stole third base while High Point starter Craig Stem was set and ready to deliver the pitch, his first of two stolen bags in the game.

Gonzalez then stole second on the very next pitch, which set up Johnni Turbo who hit an RBI groundout. Kevin Santa’s two-out single gave the Honey Hunters a 2-0 lead in the second.

De La Rosa’s next at-bat came in the third, with Scott Manea on third and two down. He grounded a single up the middle, plating Manea and giving his team a 3-0 advantage.

He ended up going 2-for-3 with a pair of walks and stolen bases.

De La Rosa stole two bases, and Gonzalez, Turbo and Santa each swiped a base as well.

Gastonia broke the game wide open in the fourth inning, when Braxton Davidson continued his scorching hot hitting.

Davidson hit an opposite-field grand slam off Stem to give Gastonia a 7-1 lead.

The lefty slugger now has 10 homers and 20 RBIs. His OPS is now at 1.104, which is the second highest on the team, only behind the OPS league leader Carlos Franco.

While the offense was scoring on Stem, Gastonia’s starter did his job on Saturday.

Zack Godley threw five innings of one-run ball, allowing two hits and striking out eight batters. The right-hander now has 86 strikeouts recorded this year, which is 12 more than the next closest pitcher in the Atlantic League. Godley’s averaging 6.6 Ks per start.

The Gastonia bullpen was efficient as well, throwing a combined four hitless frames against the Rockers.

Sam Freeman faced the minimum in two innings, Todd Van Steensel allowed one unearned run and Jaime Schultz closed the door in the ninth, striking out three in the process.

High Point mustered up just two hits against Gastonia pitching, and they were both off Godley.

Gastonia improved to 42-22 overall after winning the first game of the second half.

The rubber match between the Honey Hunters and Rockers is on Sunday at 4:05 p.m.

Lancaster 17, Spire City 4

The Lancaster Barnstormers had hit only six home runs in the last 13 games.

With the second half opener on Saturday evening, the Barnstormers match that total, and the club single game record, in a 17-4 drubbing of the Spire City Ghost Hounds at Clipper Magazine Stadium.

The long balls were hit by six different Barnstormers in five different innings.  Melvin Mercedes hit the first, a three-run homer to right in the second that gave Lancaster a 5-3 lead it never lost.  Ariel Sandoval hit a solo shot to right center later in the inning.  Jack Conley connected in the fourth: Yeison Coca hit a two-run jack in the fifth, followed by leadoff home runs from Shawon Dunston, Jr. and Trayvon Robinson the next two innings.

Overall, the Barnstormers piled up a season-high 22 hits and 44 total bases, just three shy of the franchise record.  They scored in each of the first seven innings of the contest.

Coca, Mercedes and Andretty Cordero each had four hits on the night.  Everyone in the starting lineup reached base at least twice and had at least one hit.

Oddly, it was the Ghost Hounds’ Jimmy Paredes who delivered the first blow.  The Spire City third baseman connected for a three-run homer off Nile Ball (3-4) in the top of the first after barely fouling off a pair of two-strike pitches.

Wilson Garcia singled off the glove of second baseman Starlin Castro to get a run back in the bottom of the first.  Conley doubled home Coca in the second to cut the lead to 3-2 before Mercedes began the long ball attack with his towering fly to right off Elih Villanueva (1-7).

The Barnstormers and Ghost Hounds are scheduled to play the rubber game of the three-game series on Sunday at 1:00.  Fans may tune in on Blue Ridge 11 or FloBaseball at the top of the hour.

NOTES:  The only three four-hit games recorded by the Barnstormers previously were by the same three – Coca, Cordero and Mercedes…Coca extended his hitting streak to nine…He is 16-for-34 (.471)…Dunston’s homer was his first hit in 18 at bats since coming off the injured list…He followed it with an RBI single in the seventh…Cordero had six four-hit games in 2022, all in the second half…Ball won for the first time since June 6.

Charleston 4, Staten Island 2

The Staten Island FerryHawks fell to the Charleston Dirty Birds by a score of 4-2 on Saturday. It was quite the day out at the ballpark as 2000+ happy fans packed the park for Star Wars and Autism Awareness Night! In April, the Grace Foundation broke a Guinness World Record here at SIUH Community Park by creating the largest human puzzle piece on the field! Tonight, the FerryHawk players wore puzzle piece jerseys to help to celebrate that achievement and raise awareness around autism.

Pitching dominated this contest early, making for some quick pace of play. Charleston got on board first when they plated two in the 4^th and one in the 5^th to make it 3-0 in their favor. Down, but not out, the FerryHawks fought back as Angel Aguilar muscled a homerun over the left field wall in the borrom of the 6^th – his 10^th of the season and 3^rd in the last two days! In the 8^th, Aguilar drove in another run when Brandon Pugh darted home on a line drive to center.

Charleston, leading 3-2 and feeling the pressure from the FerryHawks, managed to bring in some insurance in the 9^th to make it 4-2. The FerryHawks gave it once last effort in the 9^th but unfortunately fell short. The final game time was 2 hours and 19 minutes.

The FerryHawks and Dirty Birds wrap up the series tomorrow and its American Dream Night at the ballpark! Get ready for an appearance by Chase from Paw Patrol to finish off a great weekend at SIUH Community Park!

Long Island 7, So. Maryland 2

(Waldorf, Md., July 8, 2023) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs 7-2 on Saturday night in the second game of a three-game weekend series at Regency Furniture Stadium.

Southern Maryland took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning versus Long Island starting pitcher Kyle Lobstein by way of a two-run home run to the opposite field in left off the bat of Khalil Lee. Three consecutive Blue Crabs errors on ground balls to begin the second opened the door for the Flock against Southern Maryland starter Ian Kahaloa as the latter of the three committed by first baseman K.C. Hobson on a ball hit by Brantley Bell enabled Sam Travis to hustle home from second base. Two batters later, Joe DeCarlo cracked a three-run home run to left- center field which put the visitors out in front 4-2.                                                                                                                        

Long Island made it 5-2 in their favor in the third frame thanks to an RBI single from Wilson Ramos that plated Travis after he drew a walk with two men away. Travis’ run-scoring base knock in the seventh drove home Brian Goodwin after he reached base with a leadoff double, and a sacrifice fly in the ninth from Bell plated Ruben Tejada after he was issued a one-out walk closed out the scoring in the ballgame.

Lobstein tallied a no-decision in hist first start of 2023, allowing just two runs on one hit (one home run) in four innings pitched, walking one while striking out ten. The ten punchouts matches Ian Clarkin (6/9 vs. York) for the most by a Ducks pitcher in a single ballgame this season. Kahaloa (4-5) was tagged with the loss, surrendering six runs (two earned runs) on five hits (one home run) across six and two-thirds innings of work, walking four while striking out five. Justin Alintoff (2-1) earned the win in relief after firing two and two-thirds innings of scoreless baseball on four hits allowed, walking one and striking out a pair as the Long Island pitching staff collected 14 strikeouts in a contest for the third time on the campaign.

DeCarlo reached base all four times with a home run, three RBI’s, a run scored, and three walks.. 

The Ducks and Blue Crabs wrap up their three-game set on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. at Regency Furniture Stadium. Fans can follow all the action live on Flo Baseball by CLICKING HERE. Right-hander Robert Stock (4-0, 4.01) toes the rubber for the Flock against Blue Crabs righty Neil Uskali (3-3, 6.02). 

Long Island returns home on Tuesday, July 11, to begin another three-game set with Lancaster. 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 a Triple Play Tuesday at the ballpark, and if the Ducks turn a triple play during the game, one lucky fan will win $25,000. Simply sign up prior to first pitch at the Ticket Kiosk on the main concourse to be eligible. 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.

York 10, Lexington 7

(July 8th, 2023 – York, Pa.):  The York Revolution pounded out double digit runs and hits, taking down the Lexington Counter Clocks 10-7 in the opening game of the second half on Saturday night at WellSpan Park.

The Revs started the second half with Tom Sutera on the mound as they looked to rebound from a heartbreaking defeat in the first half finale. They faced former big leaguer Matt Kickham for the Clocks.

York opened the scoring in the third inning with back-to-back RBI singles from Jacob Rhinesmith and Trey Martin as they led 2-0 early.

Sutera was razor sharp early, retiring his first 11 batters including five on strikeouts.

Thomas Dillard launched his league-leading 22nd homer to right center in the top of the fourth, cutting the Revs lead to 2-1.

York added to the lead in a big way in the fifth. Richard Urena delivered an RBI single that handcuffed third baseman Connor Owings. With the bases loaded after a two-out walk to Nunez that knocked Kickham out of the game, Lexington called on Dakota Mekkes to get the final out but his former Triple-A Iowa Cubs teammate Trent Giambrone served a broken bat single into center to drive home two more, as the Revs built a 7-1 lead after five.

Sutera was brilliant through the first five innings but was chased after giving up four runs on four hits to start the sixth, including a two-run double to left center by Dillard and a two-run homer to left by JC Encarnacion, his third in two games as the York lead was slashed to just 7-5.

Nelvin Correa entered and took care of the rest of the sixth inning, allowing just a two-out double as the game was in the hands of the bullpen.

Will McAffer retired the first two in the seventh but gave up a double to Owings and another double to Dillard who picked up his fourth RBI as the Revs lead shrunk to 7-6. McAffer struck out the side in the inning including fanning Encarnacion for the final out to maintain the one-run edge.

York responded by putting up another crooked number with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Revs loaded the bases against reliever Joey Steele with singles by Urena and Nunez and a walk worked by Giambrone. Tomo Otosaka came up huge as he swung at the first pitch and whacked one over the head and off the glove of Encarnacion in right field, clearing the bases as all three runs scored. Otosaka’s double drove in Urena and Nunez, while Giamborone raced home on a throwing error as the relay got past catcher Mitch Ghelfi as York cushioned the lead to 10-6. 

J.P. Woodward got two ground ball outs after a leadoff walk in the eighth, and Andrew Gross was brought in to face pinch hitter Hector Roa. After a walk to Roa, Brandt Broussard ripped an RBI single to center field, scoring Roa from second as the lead was cut to 10-7.

Will Carter turned out the lights on the Counter Clocks in the ninth for his first save, recording a pair of ground outs before a two-out walk, and striking out Josue Huma to end it as the Revs go to 1-0 in the second half with the 10-7 victory.

Notes: The Revs improve to 38-26 overall. They have won six of their last seven and 11 of the last 15 games. Sutera (5-3) earned his second straight win and came within one of a career-high in strikeouts, fanning six on the night. He walked just one, his only walk in his last four starts, ending a 19-inning walkless streak. The run charged to Woodward in the eighth ended a 13-appearance streak without an earned run. Carter’s save was the fifth of his career; he became the eighth different pitcher to save a game this season for the Revs who are tied for the league lead with 20 saves as a team. Over the team’s last six successful saves, six different pitchers have recorded one. The Revs have won 18 of their last 23 games at WellSpan Park. The Revs totaled five stolen bases as a team, one off a season-high, as they became the league’s first team to 100 steals this year. Otosaka stole two bags as he leads the league with 26 steals, one ahead of Martin who picked up his 25th in Saturday’s game. Stokes Jr. swiped his 18th as he ranks tied for sixth. York righty Pedro Vasquez (3-1, 5.26) starts Sunday’s game at 2 p.m. against Lexington RHP Merandy Gonzalez (3-2, 3.64). It is Softball Day, Crab Feast catered by Captain Bob’s Crabs, and Sunday Funday presented by Weis Markets. Tickets are on sale at YorkRevolution.com, (717) 801-HITS, and in-person at the Shipley Energy Ticket Office.