Long Island 11, Lexington 9

(Lexington, Ky.,) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Lexington Legends 11-9 on Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Wild Health Fields.

Johnni Turbo put the Ducks in front immediately, leading off the game with a solo home run to left field off Legends starter Tom Dorminy. A throwing error that scored Deibinson Romero and a sacrifice fly by Deven Marrero that plated Sam Travis extended the Ducks lead to 3-0 in the second.

Lexington closed to within 3-2 in the bottom of the second on Dom Bethancourt's RBI double and Cesar Cuevas' run-scoring groundout off Ducks starter Scott Harkin. The Ducks restored their three-run advantage in the fourth on a double play ball that scored Sam Travis and Turbo’s RBI single to center. However, Montrell Marshall’s RBI double and Boog Powell’s two-run double in the bottom of the frame tied the game at five.

Joe DeCarlo put the Ducks back in front with a sac fly to right in the sixth. A five-run seventh, highlighted by RBI singles from Rusney Castillo and L.J. Mazzilli along with a three-run homer to left by Romero, extended Long Island’s advantage to 11-5. The Legends closed to within two in the eighth on a wild pitch that scored Courtney Hawkins and a three-run double by Cuevas. However, they could not pull even.

Harkin (1-0) picked up the win, tossing five innings, allowing five runs on seven hits and three walks with one strikeout. Jalen Miller (0-1) took the loss, giving up six runs on six hits in one inning. Sandy Baez earned his first save of the season with a scoreless ninth, working around two hits while striking out one.

Turbo, Castillo, Romero and Travis each had three hits to lead the Ducks offensively. Turbo finished with two RBIs and two runs, Romero drove in three runs and scored twice, and Travis scored three times.

The Ducks and Legends continue their three-game set on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Wild Health Field. 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. Right-hander Hunter Caudelle (1-0, 4.50) takes the mound for the Ducks against Legends righty Jeff Thompson (0-1, 9.00).

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).

Southern Maryland 14, Kentucky 9

Waldorf, MD, April 29, 2022) The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs started the offense immediately, with a four-run first inning, and kept the offense humming for the rest of the evening.  Despite a late comeback from the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes, the Blue Crabs' bats held them off by scoring 14 runs on 19 hits in a 14-9 win.  

Jack Sundberg, who reached base five times in tonight’s game, led off the bottom of the first with a single.  Rubi Silva ripped a double down the third baseline, scoring Sundberg and giving the Blue Crabs a 1-0 lead.  Jared Walker then blooped a single into left-center field scoring Silva and giving the Blue Crabs a 2-0 lead.  The bats kept churning in the first inning, as the first five batters picked up hits.  The Blue Crabs batted around in the inning and led 4-0 after the first.  

Mitch Lambson (W, 1-0), kept the Genomes off the board for the first five innings, while Southern Maryland added to their lead in the fourth.  Max Povse (L, 1-1), the starting pitcher for Kentucky, struggled to handle the Blue Crabs’ bats in the fourth.  Jack Sundberg led off the inning, this time shooting a double into left field.  Rubi Silva singled in Sundberg to give the Blue Crabs a 5-0 lead.  The next batter, Jared Walker, blasted an opposite-field two-run home run over the wall in left-center field, putting the Blue Crabs up 7-0.  The Blue Crabs' hits kept piling up as they led 9-0 after the fourth.   

The Genomes rallied in the top of the sixth inning, scoring seven runs and cutting the deficit to 9-7.  But just when the game was in doubt, the Blue Crabs answered again.  With the bases loaded, Southern Maryland capitalized on a wild pitch and pass ball, scoring two runs.  Jared Walker also added an RBI single, giving the Blue Crabs a 12-7 lead.   

The Genomes plated two more runs in the top of the seventh, cutting the Blue Crabs’ advantage to 12-9.  In the bottom of the seventh, with Zach Collier leading off second, Braxton Lee punched a single into center field, giving the Blue Crabs a 13-9 lead.  The Genomes walked in a run in the eighth, extending the Blue Crabs' lead to 14-9.  Dalton Geekie closed things out for Southern Maryland, securing a 14-9 victory. 

The Blue Crabs extended their winning streak to six games tonight. Southern Maryland returns to Regency Furniture Stadium tomorrow for game two against the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes at 6:35 pm.   

High Point 6, Charleston 3

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers pounded out 12 hits and won their fifth straight game with a 6-3 win over Charleston on Friday night in front of 2,426 fans at Truist Point.

High Point starting pitcher Brady Lail was outstanding, going seven innings and holding the Dirty Birds to three hits while striking out nine and not allowing a walk. The Rockers’ offense was led by Jerry Downs, Quincy Latimore and Chris Proctor who all produced two hits apiece. Latimore and Ben Aklinski each drove in a pair of runs.

“Brady had three pitches going tonight, he was consistently down in the zone and he threw strikes all night long,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “It was fun to watch.”

The Rockers took an early 2-0 lead when Johnny Field and Michael Russell started the first inning with back-to-back singles. Quincy Latimore then lined an RBI single to left that drove home Field while Zander Wiel grounded out to short, bringing Rusell home with the second run of the inning.

In the second, the Rockers’ Tyler Ladendorf led off with a line drive single to left then moved to third on a single by catcher Chris Proctor. Jay Gonzalez bounced into a 6-4-3 double play but Ladendorf was able to score to put High Point ahead 3-0.

Charleston got one run back in the fifth when Connor Justus blasted a solo homer to left, his first homer of the year.

High Point added three more runs in the fifth when they loaded the bases with one out. Latimore flew out to the fence in left for a sacrifice fly that scored one run before Aklinski doubled off the wall in left to score two more.

Lail, who has spent parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues with the White Sox and Mariners, was dominant throughout his seven innings. He struck out two in the first, fourth and fifth innings and struck out the side in the third. Besides the homer to Justus, Lail was touched for a two-out triple in the first by Juan Perez and an infield single by Yovan Gonzalez in the fifth.

The Dirty Birds scored twice in the ninth off reliever Chasen Bradford. Charleston managed a pair of singles before Bradford walked former Rocker Miles Williams to load the bases. Justus lashed a two-out double to drive in both runs and account for the 6-3 final score.

High Point and Charleston will play the second game of their three-game set on Saturday night at 6:35 at Truist Point. The Rockers will send RHP Neil Uskali (1-0, 1.80 ERA) against Charleston righy Jose Mesa, Jr. (1-0, 0.00),

Lancaster 23, York 7

LANCASTER, Pa. - On a Friday night with football weather, the Lancaster Barnstormers put up a football score.

Lancaster shattered a franchise record by scoring 23 runs in a 23-7 victory in the home opener at Clipper Magazine Stadium in front of 5.614.  The 23 runs broke a franchise record of 19 set in 2007 and replicated in 2008.

The Barnstormers, who had not had a baserunner in the first inning for seven games on the opening road trip, quickly reversed the course on Friday.  LeDarious Clark opened the inning with a solid single to left and stole second.  Melvin Mercedes launched a triple over the head of left fielder Melky Mesa.  Following a walk to Colton Shaver, Kelly Dugan planted a double into the right field corner.  Austin Nicely (0-2) got Andretty Cordero on a fly out to center for the first out.  A third run scored when Mark Zagunis grounded to third.  Anderson Feliz was hit by a pitch, and Trace Loehr beat out a single off Nicely’s glove before Jake Hoover doubled off the right field wall, scoring two more.

Lancaster’s sixth run scored when a Nicely pitch got past catcher Paul Mondesi.  At the same time, Clark became the first Barnstormer to take advantage of the Atlantic League’s experimental rule and was awarded a base hit for reaching first safely.

Dugan finished the night with six RBI, three on a homer to right center in the sixth inning.  Hoover drove in five on a pair of doubles and a single.  Clark was 4-for-4 with two dashes to first on wild pitches and drove in three.  Shaver also had a three-RBI game.

Brent Teller (1-1) benefitted from the attack.  The right-hander went five innings, allowing five hits and two runs, one earned.  He struck out seven in becoming the first Barnstormers starter to earn a win this season.

York scored five runs in the top of the ninth on a two-run single through the left side by Mesa and three bases-loaded walks.

The two clubs meet again on Saturday at 6:30 with Nile Ball (0-0) pitching against Jorge Martinez (0-0).  Fireworks will follow the game.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube channel, beginning at 6:25.

NOTES:  Pitcher Oscar De La Cruz and outfielder Connor Lien made their Lancaster debuts in the game…De La Cruz pitched a scoreless sixth inning while Lien, obtained from Southern Maryland earlier in the day, went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles…The 21 hits missed the franchise record of 25, set in 2012…With 32 total bases in the game, the Barnstormers more than doubled the season high…Lancaster went 16-for-27 with runners in scoring position.

Gastonia 5, Staten Island 4

The Gastonia Honey Hunters played their first ever game against the Staten Island Ferry Hawks on Friday night, winning by a 5-4 score at Caromont Health Park. The win for Gastonia is their seventh straight, setting the pace in the Atlantic League´s Southern Division with a 7-1 record.

Jerry Keel got the ball for Gastonia, going opposite Anthony Rodriguez in the opener of the three-game set.

Early on, both clubs were trading zeroes, as Rodriguez held Gastonia hitless through the first three frames. Keel was equally unyielding, keeping Staten Island off the board until the fourth

In the fourth inning, Kevin Krause would get to Keel, launching a home run beyond the left field wall to put Staten Island on the board. The Krause homer would spell the first time the Honey Hunters trailed in a game since opening night.

That lead would not hold.

Alex Holderbach led the fifth inning with a double to left field. The double for Holderbach was his league leading fifth two-bagger of the season.

Cesar Trejo would follow with a deep drive to center that initially appeared to land under the yellow line in center field. Trejo, who finished with a pair of hits on the night, rounded second, certain of his first home run of the 2022 season.  After a brief deliberation on the infield, the umpires determined the ball did, indeed, land above the yellow line in center for the home run. The blast tied the game at two and breathed some life into the Gastonia fans that attended the game.

Reece Hampton would replicate Trejo´s feat with a line drive homer to right, giving the Hunters a 4-2 advantage heading into the final frames. Hampton´s first dinger of the season came off of Yoel Espinal, tonight´s eventual losing pitcher.

Sam Bordner, who entered the game in the sixth, would get Gastonia through the seventh inning on the strength of 1.2 scoreless frames. He allowed one walk en route to his second win of the young year.

A Stuart Levy single to left gave Gastonia a much needed insurance run against a Ferry Hawks club still seeking the first win in franchise history. The knock for Levy gave Gastonia a 5-2 lead going to the eighth.

Quintin Torres-Costa took over for Bordner in the eighth, surrendering a homer to Angel Aguilar, cutting the lead to 5-3. The blast for Aguilar was his second of the campaign.

In the ninth, Gastonia ran into some harrowing moments.

Ronald Pena came on in the ninth to close out Staten Island and send the club´s win streak to seven straight. The effort, however, was not the intended slam dunk the home crowd was looking for.

After a strike out of John Nester, Ben Ruta laced a pinch-hit double to right field, giving the Ferry Hawks late life. Javier Betancourt singles to center, scoring Ruta and trimming the lead to 5-4.

After Ricardo Cespedes struck out swinging, Aguilar would extend the game with a single to right field. After a Kacy Clemens base on balls, Rymer Liriano would step to the plate with the chance to play hero.

After a brief mound visit, Pena would save his best stuff for last, striking out Liriano on four sliders to save the contest for Gastonia. The save for Pena was his second in as many opportunities.

Seven players collected safeties in the contest for Gastonia.

Jerry Keel got the no-decision, going 5.1 innings, allowing two runs while scattering six hits.

Tomorrow, Marcus Walden will face off against Jordan Simpson in the second game of the three game set. First pitch is set for 6:15pm. WGNC am1450 and 101.1fm will bring the radio coverage at 6pm, with Derek Smith bringing the call. Tickets are available at www.gohoneyhunters.com.