Crawdads Lose 8-6 As Tourists Clinch Division
Published on June 15, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release
Hickory could not sweep Asheville on Father's Day, instead losing, 8-6, allowing the Tourists to clinch the South Atlantic League first-half Southern Division title. Needing a win or a Charleston RiverDogs loss to clinch the crown, Asheville controlled its own destiny but also received all it could handle from Hickory. For the first time in the three-game series, runs were scored in the first inning and Hickory (30-40) held a lead after the fourth.
After Asheville (46-24) jumped ahead with two runs in the top of the first -- Darin Holcomb hit an RBI single and later scored from third base on an Andrew Walker throwing error in an attempt to throw out a runner at second -- Hickory responded with a run thanks to Miles Durham's RBI groundout in the bottom half.
Durham struck more convincingly with a two-run home run in the fourth inning, his second in as many nights and his 12th of the season, driving in himself and Albert Laboy, who led the frame off with a triple.
But the end of the fourth signaled a stretch of Hickory futility that saw 14 straight Crawdads retired while Asheville retook the lead.
The biggest Tourists damage came in a four-run sixth inning, capped by David Christensen's three-run blast that just escaped a leaping Caleb Fields at the left field wall.
Christensen's blow put Asheville up 6-3 before the Tourists would later tack on runs in the eighth and ninth to run the margin to five.
Wanting to leave little doubt in the result, Asheville went to talismanic closer Randall Taylor, who entered the game 22/22 in save chances to lead the league.
Taylor did allow an RBI double to Erik Huber and a two-run home run to Walker, but would finish the game with a strikeout of Fields to kick off a relieved Tourists celebration on the L.P. Frans Stadium infield.
All-star middle reliever Joey Williamson earned the division-clinching win, which turned out to be necessary as Charleston had won its game at home. Williamson delivered a sublime four innings of perfect relief, striking out six.
Hickory starter Dustin Molleken, meanwhile, took the loss, saddled with six runs (five earned) on 10 hits in 5.2 innings, allowing no walks and striking out two.
With the division crown, Asheville secured a playoff spot and will face the winner of the Southern Division's second-half in a first-round playoff matchup.
Hickory finishes seventh in the Northern Division and will need to win the second half to earn a playoff berth, one season after the Crawdads finished last in the division in the first half before going top of the charts in the second half.
The South Atlantic League will take its All-Star Break Monday through Wednesday, including the 2008 South Atlantic League All-Star Game, to be held Tuesday night at Greensboro's NewBridge Bank Park.
Hickory's Bobby Spain and Jose De Los Santos will start at third base and short stop, respectively, for the Northern Division team, while Durham also made the team as a utility infielder.
The Crawdads next return to action Thursday night in Greenville for a five-game series.
GAME NOTES: Game time was 2:46. Attendance was 1,398. ...On Father's Day, Hickory's Dustin Molleken and Erik Huber each played in front of their fathers Doug and Terry, respectively, who were each in town with their wives for the weekend. ...Molleken's home run allowed to Christensen gave the Crawdads right-hander 20 gopher balls served up this season, tying the franchise record for most allowed in a year. Molleken matches Luis Valdez, who also allowed 20 homers in 2006. ...Asheville wins a division title one year after placing second in both the first and second halves of the 2007 season. ...The Crawdads have now lost 9 of their last 10 Sunday games. ...Miles Durham finished the first half of the season as Hickory's team leader in AVG, HR, RBI, R, H, OBP, SLG and OPS.
South Atlantic League Stories from June 15, 2008
- Hoppers Drop First-Half Finale - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- RiverDogs Weather Sand Gnats, 8-2, But Fall Short Of First-Half Playoff Berth - Charleston RiverDogs
- POWER FINISH FIRST HALF WITH WIN - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Crawdads Lose 8-6 As Tourists Clinch Division - Hickory Crawdads
- Drive Rally, Hold On for 7-5 Thriller - Greenville Drive
- Intimidators Close Out First Half With 5-3 Win Over Legends - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- GreenJackets Fall in Final Game of First Half - Augusta GreenJackets
- BlueClaws close first half with 13-8 win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- 'Birds Drop 1st Half Finale, 'Claws Take Slugfest, 13-8 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Suns Close First Half With Win Over Captains - Hagerstown Suns
- RiverDogs Hurler Lance Pendleton Added to SAL All-Star Game - Charleston RiverDogs
- Captains Win Northern Division Crown - Lake County Captains
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