Edenton Storms Through Forest City

June 8, 2013 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release


FOREST CITY, NC - After a six-hour bus ride and two separate rain delays, Jesse Morris struck out 11 Owls and Edenton scrapped together the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth to hold on to a 3-2 victory over the Forest City Owls at McNair Field on Friday night.

Righty Jesse Morris (Wofford College) made his second start of the season for the Steamers and he followed his first stellar outing with an equal masterpiece. Opposing Morris was righty Noah Buettgen, making his second start for the Owls.

Morris allowed a lead-off single in the bottom of the first to begin the ball game and then proceeded to retire the next 13 Owls in a row.

In the top of the third, Chase Harris (University of New Mexico) picked up his first hit of the season in his second at-bat of the season. After an infield single by Laz Villa (Reedley College) and a balk charged to Owls starter Buettgen, Josh Hampton (Wilmington University) tripled down the right field line and drove in Harris. Villa, the trail runner, hesitated before leaving from second for fear of the right fielder Matt Nadoloski making the catch and was subsequently thrown out at home plate. Hampton drove in his 15th run of the season and it gave the Steamers a 1-0 lead.

The 13 straight Owls retired streak for Morris came to an end in the bottom of the fifth when Matt Nadolski hammered a pitch over the left field wall for his first home run of the season, tying the game 1-1.

We entered the bottom of the seventh tied 1-1 when the rain began to fall for the second time in the ball game. The umpires cleared the field for a second time. Forest City, who had been rained out the last three straight days, was forced to sit through yet another 22 minute delay followed by an hour and 17 minute delay in the bottom of the seventh inning.

When play resumed, Morris was lifted for Andrew Nelson (St. Catharine College). Morris's final line was spectacular. Six and one third innings pitched, four hits, one run, 11 strikeouts and no walks. He earned a no decision for his effort on this night, thanks in part to the length of the second rain delay.

Nelson was greeted rudely by pinch hitter Ty Barkell, who doubled to with one out. Lucas Owens singled right behind him and then Kendall Keeton hit a sacrifice fly that scored Barkell from third and the Owls had a 2-1 lead.

Edenton, thanks to two errors in the inning, plated the equalizer on a sacrifice fly from Dominic Fratantouno (Towson University). The RBI was the first of the season for Fratantouno. Harris scored on the fly ball after reaching on an error, stealing second base and moving to third on a throwing error.

After the second rain delay it became a bullpen game for each team. Jake McCoy (College of the Desert) pitched a one, two, three bottom of the eighth.

Edenton, against Breckin Williams, in the top of the ninth were the recipients of another Owls miscue. With two outs, Harris hit a ground ball to the shortstop Keeton and he threw the ball away allowing Tyler Qualls (Louisiana Tech university) to come around and score the go ahead and eventual game winning run.

McCoy, for his two innings of one hit, scoreless ball, earned his second win of the season and Williams, for the Owls, took his first loss of the season. Edenton improves to 6-4, while Forest City drops to 2-5. Edenton travels to Martinsville tomorrow to take on the Mustangs before coming home and having an off day on Sunday.

The Edenton Steamers are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 17th season in 2013, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over m1,000 alumni drafted and 62 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander -make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cplbaseball).



Coastal Plain League Stories from June 8, 2013


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