SAL1 Hickory Crawdads

'Dads Bring In Nearly 10,000 Fans For Opening Series

Published on April 20, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Hickory Crawdads News Release


Hickory, N.C. - Nearly 10,000 fans came out to L.P. Frans Stadium during the Crawdads first home series of the 2010 season, including a great crowd of 4,412 on Opening Night last Friday.

The Crawdads dropped the series to the Kannapolis Intimidators and are 5-7 overall, but find themselves only two games behind the first-place Delmarva Shorebirds and Lakewood BlueClaws. Hickory is tied for 5th with Kannapolis in the Northern Division.

THIS WEEK (ALL TIMES EASTERN):

Tue, April 20 vs. Charleston (7 p.m.)

Wed, April 21 vs. Charleston (11 a.m.)

Thurs, April 22 vs. Charleston (7 p.m.)

Fri, April 23 vs. Charleston (7 p.m.)

Sat, April 24 @ Savannah (6:05 p.m.)

Sun, April 25 @ Savannah (2:05 p.m.)

WEEK IN REVIEW (Home team in CAPS):

Monday, April 12

ASHEVILLE 10 vs. Crawdads 2

The Tourists welcomed Hickory to town with a big win over RHP Neil Ramirez and the 'Dads. SS Edwin Garcia led the Hickory offense with a double, a single and both runs scored.

Tuesday, April 13

ASHEVILLE 9 vs. Crawdads 4

RF Miguel Velazquez and DH Jared Prince both hit run-scoring doubles in the eighth inning, but Asheville's bats prevailed in their second straight victory.

Wednesday, April 14

ASHEVILLE 5 vs. Crawdads 4

RF Jared Prince went 4-for-4 with three doubles, three RBIs and a run to lead the offense and late come back attempt with a three-run, two-out rally in the seventh, but Asheville hung on for the narrow win.

Thursday, April 15

Crawdads 5 vs. ASHEVILLE 3

Five different Crawdads drove in a run, as the balanced offensive attack topped the Tourists in the series finale. RHP Robbie Erlin (right) pitched 2.1 perfect innings of relief to pick up the win.

Friday, April 16

Kannapolis 8 vs. CRAWDADS 4

The 'Dads drew 4,412 fans at a packed L.P. Frans Stadium for the 2010 Home Opener, which Kannapolis took, 8-4. C Vinny DiFazio drew two walks and scored two runs, while LF Cristian Santana hit a homer and drove in two RBIs.

Saturday, April 17

CRAWDADS 4 vs. Kannapolis 1

Hickory dominated from start to finish before a crowd of 3,001 at the ballpark. RHP Neil Ramirez set the pace with six shutout innings, striking out five and retiring 18 of the 21 he faced overall for the win. 1B Ed Koncel hit his first home run of the season with a two-run shot in the second inning.

Sunday, April 18

Kannapolis 4 vs. CRAWDADS 3

The Intimidators came from behind with four runs in the final three innings to steal the win after the Crawdads led from the second to the seventh. RHP Joe Wieland (left) lowered his season ERA to 0.57 with 5.2 scoreless innings, in which he struck out a season-high nine batters.

Monday, April 19

Kannapolis 7 vs. CRAWDADS 0

Kannapolis cruised to the victory in the series finale. Hickory starter LHP Robbie Ross only gave up one earned run and struck out five of the last six batters he faced before being relieved to start the fifth frame.

PLAYER AND TEAM NOTES:

~2B Edwin Garcia (4/9 - 4/15), SS Leury Garcia (4/10 - 4/15) and 3B Matt West (4/13 - 4/18) have all put together five-game hitting streaks already this season.

~LF Cristian Santana is currently on a four-game hitting streak, with one hit in each game since April 16.

~RHP Neil Ramirez (six innings on Saturday) and RHP Joe Wieland (5.2 innings on Sunday) dealt consecutive scoreless starts.

~Wieland logged a season-high nine strikeouts on Sunday, and ranks in the top-10 in the South Atlantic League with 16 on the year. He is also ranked 6th in the league with a remarkable 0.57 ERA through his first three starts.

~OF Miguel Velazquez (right) leads the team and is 2nd in the SAL with seven doubles.

~RHP Josh Lueke leads the league with a 19.80 strikeouts/9 innings ratio. He has 11 strikeouts in five innings of work. Lueke also is tied for the league lead with three saves.

~LHP Robbie Erlin has surrendered only one hit against the 20 batters he's faced so far, registering the 2nd-lowest batting-average-against (.050) in the league.

~C Vinny DiFazio leads the league with 10 walks. He was placed on the disabled list on Monday, as C Zach Zaneski was transferred to Hickory from Extended Spring Training.

SENIOR DAY/BUSINESSPERSON'S SPECIAL, THIRSTY THURSDAY AND MAGNET SCHEDULE GIVEAWAY WRAP UP HOMESTAND:

The 'Dads host the Charleston RiverDogs on Tuesday night with Dollar Day, presented by 1290 WHKY. Ten items at the ballpark cost just a buck each, and fans can buy one ticket and get a second Grandstand ticket for just $1. Gates open at 6 p.m., first pitch is at 7 p.m.

The Crawdads then take on the RiverDogs on Wednesday with a special 11 a.m. start time (gates open at 10 a.m.) for Senior Day and the Businessperson's Special. Senior adults receive $5 tickets with lunch included, and businessmen/women receive $5 Box Seat tickets by bringing a business card to the Ticket Office.

The series continues with game three on Thursday for Thirsty Thursday featuring $1 beers and Pepsis, courtesy of WNNC 1230AM, as well as a live performance by King Biscuit Trio after the game! Thursday is also Going Green Night -- fans that bring six recyclable cans or bottles will receive a free ticket, courtesy of CCC&TI. Also, all fans that wear a football jersey get a free ticket to the game as part of the Crawdads NFL Draft Party. Gates open at 6 p.m., first pitch is at 7 p.m.

The homestand wraps up on Friday with Magnet Schedule Giveaway, presented by North Carolina Education Lottery and 1290 WHKY. The first 1,000 fans receive a FREE Crawdads Magnet Schedule to put on their fridges at home! Gates open at 6 p.m., first pitch is at 7 p.m.

GET TICKETS:

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

LEAGUE LEADERS:

Pitching:

ERA - RHP Joe Wieland (0.57, 6th)

Saves - RHP Josh Lueke (3, t-1st)

K/9IP - RHP Josh Lueke (19.80, 1st - Relievers)

K/9IP - RHP Wilmer Font (13.03, 3rd - Starters)

AVG. Against - LHP Robbie Erlin (.050, 2nd)

Least Baserunners/9IP - RHP Trevor Hurley (2.57, 2nd - Relievers)

Least Baserunners/9IP - LHP Robbie Erlin (2.84, 3rd - Relievers)

Batting:

Home Runs - LF Cristian Santana (2, t-5th)

Doubles - OF Miguel Velazquez (7, 2nd)

Extra-Base Hits - OF Miguel Velazquez (7, t-4th)

Walks - C Vinny DiFazio (10, 1st)

CRAWDADS LEADERS:

Average- INF Joe Bonadonna and RF Jared Prince (.300)

Home Runs- LF Cristian Santana (2)

RBI- LF Cristian Santana (7)

Runs- C Vinny DiFazio, OF Miguel Velazquez and 3B Matt West (6)

Stolen Bases - SS Leury Garcia and OF Miguel Velazquez (3)

Walks - C Vinny DiFazio (10)

Wins - 5 tied (1)

ERA - LHP Robbie Erlin and RHP Josh Lueke (0.00)

Strikeouts - RHP Joe Wieland (16)

Saves - RHP Josh Lueke (3)

Innings Pitched - RHP Joe Wieland (15.2)

Check out the Hickory Crawdads Statistics

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 20, 2010


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