Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Charleston 4.16
Published on April 16, 2026 under Carolina League (CarL)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
The Fireflies continue their series with the Charleston RiverDogs tonight at The Joe at 7:05 pm. RHP Blake Wolters (0-0, 1.29 ERA) takes the hill for Columbia and Charleston counters with lefty Dominic Fritton (0-1, 9.53 ERA).
Columbia returns home to Segra Park for a six-game series with the Augusta GreenJackets from April 21-26. The team will host Princesses and Pirates Night with a fireworks display Saturday, April 25 and will be giving away a Fireflies 10th Anniversary lapel pin Friday, April 24. Buy your tickets starting at $6 at FirefliesTickets.com.
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CHOURIO SCORELESS START NOT ENOUGH IN 4-3 LOSS: The Fireflies got a five inning scoreless start from Kendry Chourio, but it wasn't enough as the Charleston RiverDogs rallied for four runs in the final two innings and the Fireflies fell 4-3 at The Joe Wednesday night. Two of the four runs ended up being unearned runs for the Fireflies bullpen, as the Fireflies committed four errors in the game.
I'VE GOT THE POWER: Sunday, Roni Cabrera powered Columbia's first grand slam of the 2026 season to the left field bleachers. It was the Fireflies' 10th homer across their first nine games. That's good for second in the Carolina League, right behind the Charleston RiverDogs. They have the fourth-most homers in Class-A. The Ontario Tower Buzzers lead the pack with 14 round-trippers.
CLIMBING THE LEADBOARD: Brooks Bryan's name has become a frequent flyer on the Carolina League Leaderboard after another multi-hit game Friday. Columbia's backstop has the ninth-highest battting average (.345), the third-best slugging percentage (.724) and the third-highest OPS (1.165) this season. The Alabama native has five doubles and two homers and has driven in nine RBI this year. When he homered Saturday, he joined Ivan Sosa as the only players who have homered in back-to-back games this season. Bryan has had at least one hit in each of his eight games played this season. He's currently tied with RiverDogs catcher Caleb Bodine for the longest-active hitting streak in the Carolina League this season.
DOUBLING UP ON DEFENSE: The Fireflies have turned two more than any Carolina League team this season. Columbia has 13 doubleplays in 402 total chances in the field this year. The next closest in the Carolina League is Salem who has 12. The Fireflies are tied with the second-most twin killings among Double-A, High-A and Single-A, all of whom started a week later than Triple-A. The Frisco Rough Riders pace the group with 17 double plays and the Lansing Lugnuts also have 13.
ROCKING RONI: After recording no RBI in his first three games, Roni Cabrera has found strong production over his last five games. The outfielder has 10 RBI over his last five games, thanks in large part to a grand slam he hit in the first inning of Sunday's game against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. He added an additional three, one in each of his last three plate appearances in Tuesday's extra innings victory over the Charleston RiverDogs. His 10 RBI are tied for the third-most in the Carolina League.
CHOURIO CRUISES: Wednesday, Kendry Chourio continued his strong start in his second season in the Carolina League. The Venezuela native spun five scoreless innings with a handful of strikeouts. He held Charleston to three hits and one walk in the performance. Chourio now has 9.2 scoreless innings in his last two starts. He has punched out 11 opponents on the run and has maintained a 0.41 WHIP. Through three startrs, Chourio ranks fifth in the Carolina League in ERA, strikeouts and WHIP. He's also fourth in innings pitched and sixth in opposing average. The righty was recently added to MLB Pipeline's Top 100 prospects list. He is currently listed as the 97th-best prospect. With the news, 2022 Fireflies catcher Carter Jensen has graduated from Pipeline's Top 100 List and 2024 catcher Blake Mitchell currently sits in the 67 slot. It's the second time in three years Columbia has had an active member on the list.
Carolina League Stories from April 16, 2026
- Pelicans Sunk by Cannon Ballers 9-4 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Crawdads Run Wild against Salem - Hickory Crawdads
- Big Innings Lead Hill City Past Wilson - Wilson Warbirds
- Five-Run Sixth Leads Charleston to Second Straight Win over Columbia - Charleston RiverDogs
- Merritt Plays Hero in Another Augusta Comeback - Augusta GreenJackets
- Pitching Powers FredNats to 8-2 Win over Delmarva - Fredericksburg Nationals
- Wolters Tosses Five Inning Gem in 6-4 Loss - Columbia Fireflies
- Delmarva's Offense Stymied by Fredericksburg in Defeat - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Columbia Fireflies Game Notes at Charleston 4.16 - Columbia Fireflies
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