Burns Sends Steamers into Second Round
August 6, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - In the longest game the steamers have played all season, Nathan Burns hit a double off the highest part of the left field wall to score Brian Blasik in the bottom of the 14th inning and send the Steamers into the second round of the Petitt Cup Playoffs.
Esteban Guzman made his second start for the Steamers all season in game two of the best-of-three opening round playoff series. The Steamers needed just one more win in two games against their North Division rivals to advance and send the Peninsula Pilots home.
Peninsula jumped out to a 4-0 lead after just one half inning. Jake Atwell hit a solo home run to lead off the game and begin the scoring. With one out, Guzman issued back-back walks and Phil Ruzbarsky hit a single to score Chas Crane and make it 2-0 Pilots. After a strike out, Zac Macaneny hit a two-run single to complete the scoring for the Pilots.
Ryan Brenner, in the bottom of the second against Pilots starter Jake Cave, put the Steamers on the scoreboard with a two-run double that scored Zach Stewart and Brett Christopher, who had both singled. Brenner cut the Pilot lead in half with one swing of the bat; 4-2.
The score remained 4-2 Pilots until the top of the 4th inning. Ivan Hartle was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. He moved to second on a ground out and third on a Jake Atwell single. Jimmy Rider knocked him in with an RBI groundout to make it 5-2 Peninsula.
Cave was still in the ball game in the bottom of the sixth. Joey Wendle greeted him with a single to begin the inning. A throwing error charged to Cave on a pick-off attempt moved Wendle all the way to third. Bo Bigham reached on an error with a ground ball that scored Wendle to make it 5-3 Pilots. Bigham ended up at second base and Zach Stewart walked. Vinnie Mejia moved up both runners with a sacrifice bunt for the first out of the inning. Brett Christopher made it 5-4 with an RBI groundout and Jeff Calhoon tied the game at 5-5 with an RBI single.
Guzman pitched four innings for the Steamers, allowing four hits and five runs (all earned). He walked three and struck out two. Guzman earned a no decision in the outing.
Eddie Perkins came out of the Steamer bullpen and pitched 3.1 innings of one-run ball for the Steamers in relief of Guzman. The only run Perkins allowed came on a solo home run in the top of the eighth. Chris Cowell hit the home run to reclaim the lead for Peninsula 6-5.
In the bottom of the eighth Austin Chrismon was on the mound for Peninsiula, their third pitcher of the night. With one out Christopher singled, one of his three hits in the ball game. Christopher stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. Brian Blasik hit an RBI double with two out to score Christopher and tie the game once again 6-6.
Five and a half scoreless innings followed the Steamers tying run in the bottom of the eighth. Ethan Cole entered the game and retired the final batter in the top of the ninth and then proceeded to pitch five scoreless innings for Edenton, through the top of the 14th. It was Cole's longest outing of the season.
For Peninsula, it was a three pitcher effort to keep it scoreless into the bottom of the 14th. Deshorn lake, who took the loss in game one in Hampton, VA pitched the final three innings.
In the bottom of the 14th with Lake on the mound and one out Brian Blasik singled and Tim Saunders followed that with a single. Joey Wendle popped out for the second out and the stage was set for Burns to win the game. He hit a high fly ball that was headed for the left field wall that easily allowed Blasik to score the winning run in the 14th inning.
The Steamers earned a two games to nothing series sweep over the Peninsula Pilots by winning two, tightly contested games that both took extra innings. Now, the Steamers will have two days off and they will wait and see who the play on the road on Monday August 8th in game one of the second round of the Petitt Cup playoffs.
Ethan Cole for his 5.1 innings pitched earns the win in game two. Cole earned the win in both series games against the Pilots. He is now 7-1 overall and 2-0 in the postseason.
For Peninsula, Deshorn Lake earned the loss for both games one and two and falls to 2-4 overall and 0-2 in the postseason. Edenton now has a 4-2 record against Peninsula in the postseason, going back to 2002.
The Edenton Steamers compete during the summer at Historic Hicks Field in downtown Historic Edenton, North Carolina. Currently in its 15th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. The CPL has had over 930 alumni drafted and 45 alums have made their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league Web site at http://www.coastalplain.com. For more information on the Edenton Steamers, please visit the team website at http://www.edentonsteamers.com.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from August 6, 2011
- Grizzles down HiToms to advance - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Fayetteville's Season Ends with 12-1 Loss to Wilmington in Game 3 - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Sharks advance to Second Round of Petitt Cup playoffs - Wilmington Sharks
- Tobs WebPass Broadcaster to Finish Season with Kinston Indians - Coastal Plain
- Burns Sends Steamers into Second Round - Edenton Steamers
- 2011 Season In Review - Morehead City Marlins
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