SAL1 Hickory Crawdads

Crawdads Weekly - 'Dads Gear up for Potential Playoff Preview With

Published on August 24, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release


HICKORY, NC - The Hickory Crawdads are preparing for their final home series, a potential playoff preview, against the Lakewood BlueClaws, beginning on Wednesday. The four-game series against the BlueClaws will also serve as a chance for the Crawdads to leapfrog their division foe and take charge in the race for the Northern Division second-half title.

The Crawdads are currently 29-26 in the second half of the 2010 season, putting them in second place in the Northern Division, three games behind Lakewood. Hickory remains second in the overall standings as well at 69-56, five games behind the BlueClaws and nine games ahead of the third-place Greensboro Grasshoppers for the wild card spot, if necessary.

THIS WEEK:

Tuesday, Aug. 24 vs. Delmarva (7 p.m.)

Wednesday, Aug. 25 vs. Lakewood (7 p.m.)

Thursday, Aug. 26 vs. Lakewood (7 p.m.)

Friday, Aug. 27 vs. Lakewood (7 p.m.)

Saturday, Aug. 28 vs. Lakewood (7 p.m.)

Monday, Aug. 30 @ Asheville (7:05 p.m.)

Tuesday, Aug. 31 @ Asheville - Doubleheader Game One (5:35 p.m.)

Tuesday, Aug. 31 @ Asheville - Doubleheader Game Two (Approx. 30 minutes following Game One)

WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):

Tuesday, Aug. 17

KANNAPOLIS 8 vs. Hickory 2

With the bases loaded and just one out in the first inning, C Zach Zaneski smacked a two-run single up the middle to score DH Travis Adair and SS Leury Garcia and put Hickory up, 2-0. Kannapolis, however, put up eight unanswered runs to win, 8-2.

Wednesday, Aug. 18

Hickory 7 vs. KANNAPOLIS 4

The Crawdads withstood an hour and five minute long rain and lightning delay, defeating the Intimidators, 7-4. RF Jared Prince drove in three of the 'Dads seven runs. RHP Matt Thompson took over on the mound for Hickory after the delay, earning the win. LHP Joseph Ortiz picked up the save with 2.1 scoreless innings of relief.

Thursday, Aug. 19

Hickory vs. KANNAPOLIS

Postponed due to inclement weather.

Friday, Aug. 20

KANNAPOLIS 4 vs. Hickory 2 - Doubleheader Game 1 (7 innings)

Hickory struck first with a solo homer by 3B Matt West in the top of the second. However, Kannapolis responded with a three-run bomb by 3B Juan Silverio to take a 3-1 lead, and went on to win, 4-2. RHP Neil Ramirez dealt all six innings for the 'Dads and was tagged with the loss.

Friday, Aug. 20

KANNAPOLIS 1 vs. Hickory 0 - Doubleheader Game 2 (7 innings)

The trio of LHP Matt Wickswat, RHP Jake Petricka and RHP Taylor Thompson combined to no-hit the Crawdads in the Intimidators 1-0 shutout win. Kannapolis struck for the lone run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI infield single by SS Tyler Saladino. LHP Chad Bell pitched all six innings for Hickory in game two, taking the loss.

Saturday, Aug. 21

HICKORY 9 vs. Delmarva 4

The 'Dads offense was powered by four home runs off the bats of C Zach Zaneski, CF Jared Bolden, LF Guillermo Pimentel and DH Ed Koncel, tying a season-high for home runs in a single game. RHP Jake Brigham picked up the win for Hickory.

Sunday, Aug. 22

Delmarva 2 vs. HICKORY 1

RHP Braden Tullis dealt six scoreless frames for Hickory, while RHP Bobby Bundy countered with seven scoreless innings for Delmarva. The Shorebirds cracked the scoreless affair with a pair of runs (one earned) in the top of the eighth. The 'Dads scored their lone run in the bottom of the ninth on an RBI single by CF Jared Bolden.

Monday, Aug. 23

HICKORY 5 vs. Delmarva 1

The Crawdads rode a pair of two-run home runs by C Zach Zaneski and CF Jared Bolden on their way to a 5-1 victory over Delmarva. LHP Miguel De Los Santos picked up the win, striking out 10 batters for the third time this season. RHP Matt Thompson followed with three scoreless innings of relief to record the save.

PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:

~The four homers slugged by Hickory on Sunday ties the season-high set against the Lexington Legends on June 6 and falls one short of the all-time high of five against the Greensboro Grasshoppers on May 12, 2004.

~3B Matt West drove in his 100th RBI as a Crawdad on Saturday.

~INF/OF Ed Koncel is batting .400 with a home run and 3 RBI in his past four games.

~The 'Dads have slugged seven home runs over their last five games.

~RHP Braden Tullis was tagged with his first loss of the season last Tuesday against the Kannapolis Intimidators. Tullis appeared in 28 games, including eight starts, prior to receiving the loss.

~The Crawdads pitching staff has the third-lowest ERA (3.44) and WHIP (1.23), the third-most strikeouts (1,053) and fewest walks (292) in the South Atlantic League.

~'Dads pitchers lead the league with 41 saves.

THIRSTY THURSDAY, FIREWORKS, ZOOPERSTARS AND TEAM CARD SETS WRAP UP FINAL HOMESTAND!:

Tuesday, Aug. 24 vs. Delmarva - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch

-Dollar Day - Buy one Grandstand ticket, get a second for just a buck!

-Nine other items just $1 each!

-KRAFT Singles Tuesday Night Tickets

-Hollywood Night

-1290 WHKY

Wednesday, Aug. 25 vs. Lakewood - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch

-Bald is Beautiful Night - all bald-headed fans receive a FREE ticket

-Unemployment Night - show NCESC card or printed online statement for 4 free tickets

-Wii Wednesday Home Run Derby Contest Finals

Thursday, Aug. 26 vs. Lakewood - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch

-Thirsty Thursday - $1 beers and Pepsis

-Carolina Panthers Night - wear a Panthers shirt or jersey for a FREE ticket

-Norva Jean Dreams concert

-Presented by Buffalo Wild Wings and The Big Dawg 92.1FM

Friday, Aug. 27 vs. Lakewood - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch

-Friday Night Fireworks

-ZOOperstars Appearance

-Bark at the Park - bring your canine companion and enjoy the ballgame

-Presented by Merial, Piedmont Vet. Med. Assoc., BARK Mobile and KICKS 103.3 FM

Saturday, Aug. 28 vs. Lakewood - 6 p.m. gates open, 7 p.m. first pitch

-Team Card Set Giveaway - first 1,000 fans

-Fan Appreciation Night - prizes awarded throughout the ballgame

-Game-Worn Jersey Auction

-Presented by Dale Earnhardt Chevrolet and WNNC 1230AM

GET TICKETS:

Single game tickets for all Crawdads games, including potential 2010 playoff games, are now on sale at the Crawdads Ticket Office and online at www.hickorycrawdads.com and start at just $6! Season tickets, mini-plans and group outings are available at the Crawdads Front Office, located at 2500 Clement Blvd. NW or by calling (828) 322-3000.

LEAGUE LEADERS:

LHP Robbie Erlin - 0.94 WHIP (2nd)

LHP Robbie Erlin - .213 battting average against (3rd)

LHP Robbie Erlin - 2.24 ERA (3rd)

RHP Matt Thompson - 128 strikeouts (2nd)

RHP Matt Thompson - 9 wins (T-3rd)

RHP Matt Thompson - 1.61 walks allowed per 9 innings (3rd among starters)

RHP Neil Ramirez - 127 strikeouts (T-3rd)

RHP Neil Ramirez - 8 wins (T-4th)

RHP Neil Ramirez - 9.05 strikeouts per 9 innings (5th among starters)

RHP Jake Brigham - 2 complete games (T-2nd)

RF Jared Prince - 8.98 total plate appearances per strikeout (3rd-best)

SS Leury Garcia - 43 stolen bases (T-4th)

3B Matt West - 24 hit by pitches (1st)

CRAWDADS LEADERS:

Batting Average- 2B Travis Adair (.338)

Home Runs- 3B Matt West (13)

RBI- RF Jared Prince (69)

Stolen Bases - SS Leury Garcia (43)

Walks - RF Jared Prince (50)

Wins - RHP Matt Thompson (9)

ERA - LHP Robbie Erlin (2.24)

Strikeouts - RHP Matt Thompson (128)

Saves - RHP Braden Tullis, RHP Ovispo De Los Santos (3)

Innings Pitched - RHP Neil Ramirez (126.1)

Check out the Hickory Crawdads Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from August 24, 2010


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