Long Island 10, Charleston 6

(Charleston, W.Va., April 28, 2022) – The Long Island Ducks defeated the Charleston Dirty Birds 10-6 on Thursday morning in the final game of a three-game series at Appalachian Power Park.

The Ducks erupted for five runs in the second inning off Dirty Birds starter Joe Testa to grab the early lead. A solo homer from Sam Travis, RBI doubles by Deven Marrero and L.J. Mazzilli, a run-scoring groundout from Mitch Calandra and a sac fly off the bat of Johnni Turbo did the damage. Calandra added an RBI single to left in the third, extending the Ducks lead to 6-0.

Three more runs in the fourth on Travis’ RBI groundout and RBI singles from Joe DeCarlo and Marrero ballooned the advantage to nine. Charleston got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on Tyler Blaum’s two-run triple down the left field line off Ducks starter Bennett Parry. Deibinson Romero’s RBI single in the fifth pushed the Ducks lead to 10-2, but a four-spot for the Dirty Birds in the bottom of the frame closed the gap to 10-6. However, Charleston got no closer.

Parry did not factor into the decision but pitched four innings, allowing four runs on two hits and five walks while striking out six. Anderson DeLeon (2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits with one strikeout. Testa (0-1) took the loss, yielding nine runs (three earned) on 14 hits over four innings with one strikeout.

Marrero led the Flock with three hits, two RBIs and a run. Mike Wielansky added three hits and a run, while DeCarlo had two hits, an RBI and three runs scored.

The Ducks continue their road trip on Friday night when they open a three-game series against the Lexington Legends. 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 Scott Harkin (0-0, 0.00) gets the start for the Ducks against Legends southpaw Thomas Dorminy (0-1, 37.80).

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 13, Lancaster 3

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers broke out the bats again on Thursday night in posting a 13-3 win over Lancaster in front of 2,001 fans at Truist Point.

The Rockers scored in double digits for the second straight night and swept the series from the Barnstormers by a total score of 32-7.

High Point started the scoring with a four-run first inning, highlighted by a two-run double by Zander Wiel and a two-run homer by Ben Aklinski.

In the fourth, the Rockers put up a franchise-record nine runs and set club records with five extra base hits, 15 total bases and nine consecutive batters reaching base in the inning.  High Point rapped a total of seven hits in the frame against three different Lancaster pitchers. Quincy Latimore belted a two-run homer, Tyler Ladendorf laced an RBI double, Jay Gonzalez hit a two-run double, Johnny Field knocked in a run with a double and Wiel had a triple.

Cooper Casad (1-0) got the win with five innings of work while holding the Barnstormers to just four hits. Lancaster starter Augie Sylk took the loss to fall to 0-2.

Four Rockers had two hits apiece including Michael Russell, Jerry Downs, Latimore and Wiel.  Latimore, Wiel, Aklinski and Gonzalez each had a pair of RBI.

The Rockers will start a three-game weekend series with the Charleston Dirty Birds on Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Truist Point.  The Rockers will send righty Brady Lail (0-0) to the mound to face Charleston righty Dominic DeMasi (1-0). DeMasi posted a 7-3 record with the Rockers during their inaugural season in 2019.

Gastonia 6, Kentucky 4

GASTONIA, N.C. - The Gastonia Honey Hunters completed a three-game sweep of the Wild Health Genomes by winning Thursday night´s contest 6-4 at Caromont Health Park.

Gastonia sent Deck McGuire to the hill on Thursday, looking to replicate his debut in Gastonia. McGuire collected the first win of the season for Gastonia last Friday against the Lancaster Barnstormers. In the last five games, Gastonia has outscored their opponents 54-13.

McGuire was very solid in the open, scattering three hits over the first three frames.

The offense for the Honey Hunters took a little longer to get going this evening, as the club would not cross home until the third inning when Johnny Davis would score Stuart Levy on a fielder's choice. Jake Skole would come home on a wild pitch to give McGuire a two run advantage.

Luke Becker would leave the yard in the fourth against McGuire, hitting his first homer of the season to left field, cutting the lead in half.

Gastonia would respond quickly with a three spot in the bottom half of the frame.

Alex Holderbach doubled home Reece Hampton to up the lead to 3-1, moving Stuart Levy over the third on the base knock. Jack Reinheimer brought home Levy and Holderbach with a single to left, stretching the lead to 5-1.

After a sixth inning dinger from Riley Mahan in the sixth cut the lead to 5-2, the Honey Hunters would plate their final run on a RBI double from Johnny Davis.

Deck McGuire took a very steady outing into the seventh inning. After a fly out from Chase Vallot,  Andrew Keefer doubled down the left field line, bringing McGuire to the end of his night.

Spencer Bivens would come into finish the seventh, but not before the Genomes would trim the lead to 6-3, as Breland Almadova scored Keefer on a grounder to short.

In the eighth, Quintin Torres-Costa would give up the second homer of the night to Mahan, his third of the year, to bring the Genomes back to within two. However, Ronald Pena would come on to slam the door shut and give the Honey Hunters their first series sweep of the year.

McGuire claimed his second win of the season, while Elih Villanuaeva was saddled with the loss. Pena picked up his first save in the contest, giving the relief corps three saves in this homestand.

Alex Holderbach had the lone multi-hit game for Gastonia, driving home a run and scoring twice.

McGuire´s line would finish with 6.1 innings of work, striking out six and just one batter.

With a Charleston loss this afternoon, Gastonia stands alone in first in the ALPB´s South Division with a 6-1 record. Wild Health watches their record fall to 2-5 on the season.

The Honey Hunters will welcome Staten Island tomorrow to Caromont Health Park for the first time in franchise history for a three-game set. Jerry Keel takes the mound for the Honey Hunters against a Ferry Hawks club that boasts former Atlanta Braves starter Julio Teheran on its roster (will not pitch this weekend). First pitch is set for 6:15pm. WGNC am1450 and 101.1fm will bring the radio coverage at 6 pm, with Mike Glennon bringing the call. Tickets are available at www.gohoneyhunters.com.

Southern Maryland 1, Staten Island 0

(Waldorf, MD, April 28, 2022) The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs pitching staff outdueled the Staten Island FerryHawks in a 1-0 win, sweeping the two-game series.  Denson Hull started for the Blue Crabs, pitching four terrific innings and setting the tone for the rest of the evening. 

Denson Hull battled with Matt Solter (L, 0-1), the starting pitcher for the Staten Island FerryHawks.  Solter was strong over six innings of work, but, in the third inning, he faltered.  With one out, Jack Sundberg roped a standup triple down the right-field line into the corner.  The next batter, Rubi Silva, hit a high chopper to the shortstop Angel Aguilar, who was playing in to prevent the run.  Aguilar looked home but did not have a play, and Rubi Silva beat out the throw at first base, giving the Blue Crabs a 1-0 lead.              

Hull exited after four innings, allowing one hit and walking three while striking out two.  Patrick Baker (W, 1-0) came on in relief, pitching two perfect innings, and striking out one.  Nick Wells pitched a scoreless seventh inning, keeping the Blue Crabs up 1-0. 

Endrys Briceno came in for the eighth inning.  After retiring the first two batters, he walked Angel Aguilar.  Briceno then hit the next batter, Kacy Clemens.  With runners on first and second, Briceno struck out the cleanup hitter Kevin Krause to end the inning. 

The Blue Crabs threatened in the bottom of the eighth.  With one out, Rubi Silva singled to center field, before stealing second base.  He advanced to third on Jared Walker’s ground out but was ultimately stranded there to end the eighth, with the Blue Crabs still ahead 1-0. 

 Mat Latos (SV, 2) entered the game in the top of the ninth inning. Latos walked the leadoff man Brandon Wagner, before getting Norberto Susini to ground into a fielder’s choice.  Latos then hit Joseph Monge, putting runners on first and second with one out.  The next batter, Javier Betancourt, placed a perfect bunt down the third baseline for a base hit, loading the bases with one out.  Mat Latos then induced a 6-4-3 double-play ball to end the game, giving the Blue Crabs a 1-0 win. 

 Southern Maryland has won five consecutive games and leads the North Division by one game.  The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs return to Regency Furniture Stadium tomorrow night at 6:35 pm when they begin a three-game series with the Kentucky Wild Health Genomes.

York 19, Lexington 1 

York 19, Lexington 1

(April 28, 2022 – Lexington, Ky.):  The York Revolution took out the frustration of an early season four-game losing streak by overwhelming the Lexington Legends in a 19-1 victory on Thursday night at Wild Health Field.  Nellie Rodriguez annihilated his first home run of the season and drove in five in the win, while Troy Stokes Jr. racked up four RBI in the massive onslaught.  Alex Sanabia earned the win in a combined three-hitter for the pitching staff.

Sanabia (1-0) and Lexington starter Daniel Corcino (0-2) matched one another early in the game, each retiring 10 of their first 11 batters as the game was scoreless into the fourth.

Melky Mesa sparked a three-run uprising with one out in the fourth as he ripped the first of four consecutive doubles.  Rodriguez, Carlos Franco, and Carlos Castro each followed with RBI doubles for a sudden 3-0 lead.

The Revs erupted an inning later, sending 13 batters to the plate in a seven-run outburst.  Stokes Jr. ripped an RBI double to left and Rodriguez blasted his first home run of the season, a tape-measure three-run shot to left to make it 7-0.  One pitch later, Carlos Franco blasted his third home run in as many games as the duo went back-to-back for the first time.  Yefri Perez walked with the bases loaded and Stokes Jr. was hit by a pitch to force in another run as the lead ballooned to 10-0.

Sanabia carried a one-hitter into the sixth, as his only run allowed in 5.1 innings came on a single to right by Courtney Hawkins.  Robinson Parra took over with one out and retired all five batters faced, and Isaac Sanchez closed it out with two perfect innings, striking out four as the bullpen tandem combined to retire all 11 batters.

Meanwhile the offense enjoyed an even bigger inning in the seventh, scoring eight more times as 12 men batted.  Stokes Jr. sliced a two-run double to right while Mesa and Rodriguez both ripped RBI singles up the middle.  Josue Herrera drew a bases loaded walk and Elmer Reyes laced a two-run double to right.  Jack Kenley smoked an RBI single up the gut as the Revs went up 18-1.

York tallied one final run in the eighth courtesy of a Legends error, as the 19 runs tied the sixth most in a game in franchise history and the 20 hits marked their most since July 28, 2019 vs. New Britain, also a 19-1 victory.  The 18-run margin of victory came one run shy of a franchise record.

Mesa, Rodriguez, Reyes, and Kenley all enjoyed three-hit performances.  Rodriguez’ five RBI tied his Revs career-best (June 6, 2021 at Lancaster).

Franco’s three RBI gave him 10 for the series and his 11 on the season are tied for the league lead.

The Revs ripped nine extra-base hits (two homers, seven doubles).  The seven doubles came within one of matching a franchise record.  The offensive outburst followed a 12-run, 16-hit effort from the day before.

The Revs continue their season-opening nine-game road jaunt with the first of a three-game series in Lancaster on Friday at 6:30 p.m.  Revs lefty Austin Nicely (0-1, 6.00) faces Barnstormers righty Brent Teller (0-1, 54.00) in the opener.  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 6:10 p.m. with Darrell Henry on the call.