SAL1 Asheville Tourists

At Last Tourists Clinch Division Title

Published on June 16, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release


Hickory, NC - The Tourists entered the final day of the first half of the season needing a win to guarantee a playoff spot. Holding a slim one game lead in the Southern Division over Charleston, with the RiverDogs already collecting their much needed win over Savannah midway through the Tourists game in Hickory, David Christensen delivered a go-ahead three-run home run to put the Tourists up 6-3 and propel the team to a slim 8-6 win and a first half championship. Asheville (46-24) collected their first postseason appearance since 2001 with a game saving performance by Joey Williamson out of the bullpen. Williamson (2-0) entered the game for starter Robinson Fabian in the fifth inning and retired all 12 batters he faced to pick up the win. With Asheville trialing 3-2 entering the sixth inning, Kevin Clark delivered a single to plate Darin Holcomb who had doubled to begin the inning. Jeffrey Cunningham would follow with a single and David Christensen blasted his sixth and most crucial homerun of the season to put the Tourist out in front for good. Lars Davis doubled two outs later to chase Hickory's starting pitcher Dustin Molleken (4-4). Joey Williamson then cruised into the ninth inning and the team would add two needed insurance runs, one in the eighth and one in the ninth. Williamson finished with four innings worked and five strikeouts to earn the victory. Hickory put together three runs in the bottom of the ninth off All-Star closer Randall Taylor on doubles by Miles Durham and Erik Huber. Andrew Walker then hit a two-run homer to left to close the gap to 8-6. Taylor would then buckle down and strikeout Caleb Fields to end the first half pennant race in dramatic fashion. The team will have three day off for the All-Star game before beginning the second half of the season with a five game series against the Augusta GreenJackets in Augusta, GA. Jhoulys Chacin will be the starting pitcher in the All-Star contest in Greensboro and the Southern Division team will be managed be Joe Mikulik and Asheville's pitching coach Doug Linton. The Asheville Tourists are the Single-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. Tickets are available by contacting the front office at (828)-258-0428 or on the website, www.theashevilletourists.com.

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South Atlantic League Stories from June 16, 2008


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