SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Black's third double the charm in walk-off win

Published on April 23, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Kannapolis Intimidators used a second walk-off win, 8-7, over the West Virginia Power to complete a five-game series sweep at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium on Saturday night in the second game of a doubleheader. Kannapolis is now 12-4 and in first place of the South Atlantic League Northern Division.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, 1B Dan Black drove a 3-2 pitch off the wall in right field to bring home the winning runs in 2B Ross Wilson and DH Mike Blanke. Black finished the game with 3-for-3 with three doubles.

The game featured three lead changes over the final three half-innings. In a 5-5 game in the bottom of the sixth, RF Kenny Gilbert's slow-rolling infield single scored Black from third to give Kannapolis a 6-5 advantage. The Power responded in the top of the seventh, scoring runs off Jake Wilson on an Intimidators throwing error and a Justin Howard RBI-single, taking a 7-6 lead and setting up the dramatic bottom of the seventh.

The Intimidators scored three runs in the first inning on back-to-back homeruns, the first consecutive long balls from Kannapolis this season. LF Brady Shoemaker's first homerun of the season went to the opposite field as he drove in CF Trayce Thompson on a two-run shot. DH Mike Blanke followed with a solo homer (2) yanked over the left-field wall.

West Virginia responded on a Drew Maggi double, scoring Andy Vasquez from first in the top of the third inning. Daniel Grovatt added a two-run single in the fourth, and the Power plated two more in the top of the sixth on an Intimidators throwing error and a wild pitch.

RHP Jake Wilson earned the win for the Intimidators, surviving two runs (one earned) off one hit in two innings of work. Starting pitcher Ryan Buch pitched into the sixth inning, but was lifted for Wilson with the bases loaded and no outs.

The Intimidators are off on Sunday before heading to Lexington, Kentucky, to face the Lexington Legends in a five-game series beginning Monday.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 23, 2011


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