SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Early Runs Aid Kannapolis Series Win, 8-2

Published on August 10, 2010 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


The Kannapolis Intimidators scored eight runs and racked up ten hits by the end of the fourth inning and ended with the same amount in each as they win the rubber match of a five-game series against the Hagerstown Suns on Tuesday night by the score of 8-2. The Intimidators end the homestand four games closer to .500 as they went 6-2 over the eight games contested in nine days.

Against Billy Ott, the starter for the Suns (17-28) the Intimidators got on the board in the first inning as both Tyler Saladino and Brady Shoemaker walked, bringing Nick Ciolli up with two on and two out. On a two strike pitch, Ciolli one-hopped the wall in left, scoring both runners and as he slid into third for a triple, kicked the throw away and scampered home to give the Intimidators (21-23) a 3-0 lead in the first.

The Suns got a run back in the third on three straight singles before starter Andre Rienzo finished the inning with back-to-back strikeouts with two on and then in the bottom-half it was more trouble for Ott (0-1). In the bottom of the third, Saladino led off with a double off the wall in right, followed by another double to right by Shoemaker, scoring Saladino to make it 4-1. Later that inning with two down, Jose Vargas singled in Shoemaker and it was 5-1 exiting the third.

More trouble for the Suns in the fourth as Ott allowed back-to-back singles to new Intimidator John Spatola and Juan Silverio before Daniel Wagner brought home Spatola and a Shoemaker single brought in two more. In total, Ott allowed seven runs, six earned, in three full innings as he was taken out without recording an out. Up 8-1, the Intimidators were done offensively and were retired in order from the final out of the fourth on.

Rienzo (5-4) lasted one out into the fifth and was taken out after getting stepped on covering first after a ground ball in the infield. The injury appeared to be minor. Rienzo allowed two runs and struck out eight in his time. In total, Rienzo, Ryan Kussmual, Jake Petricka, who hit 99 mph on the team speed gun, and Taylor Thompson had a combined total of 14 strikeouts.

Spatola had a double and a single on the first two pitches he saw as a member of the Intimidators in his first game and Saladino upped his average to .344. Brady Shoemaker had three more RBI, ending with 10 in the series and Ciolli added two more and had seven in five games.

The Intimidators have won three straight series at home and go into an off day before a trip to Savannah to take on the Sand Gnats for a five game series, beginning Thursday at 7:05 pm. The rotation will shape up with Ryan Buch starting game one, followed by Matt Wickswat, Cameron Bayne, Justin Collop and Rienzo.

Check out the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



South Atlantic League Stories from August 10, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central