Fireflies Game Notes: April 14 at Lexington (Game 10)
Published on April 14, 2019 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
Columbia Fireflies (3-6) @ Lexington Legends (6-3)
RHP Dedniel Nunez (1-0, 3.18) vs. LHP Austin Cox (0-1, 1.80)
Sun., April 14, 2019 - Whitaker Bank Ballpark (Lexington, KY) - First Pitch 2:05 p.m. - Game 10
LISTEN: FirefliesLiveStream.com / ColumbiaFireflies.com / TuneIn App
WATCH: MiLB.TV
LAST TIME OUT: Brian Sharp recorded another multi-hit game but the Fireflies dropped Saturday's tilt vs. Lexington, 3-1.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: Columbia has never been sweep in a four-game series on the road. It must win on Sunday to stave off the dubious distinction.
MAURICIO STREAKIN': After going hitless on opening night last week, Columbia's top-rated Mets prospect (No. 3 in the system, Baseball America) Ronny Mauricio is on a seven-game hit streak that includes three multi-hit games. The 18-year-old singled in his first at-bat on Saturday against Lexington and is hitting .313 through eight games.
THANKS FOR THE HOSPITALITY, LEXINGTON: Infielder Brian Sharp has a pair of two-hit games during the series against Lexington. He homered on Thursday and doubled on Saturday. Sharp last played in Lexington, Kentucky, as a member of the Missouri Tigers baseball team from April 27-29, 2018. He made quite a splash then, too, at Cliff Hagan Stadium (which is about 4 miles from Whitaker Bank Ballpark) against the Wildcats. Sharp recorded three straight multi-hit games (7-for-14) and whacked two homers, a double, scored six runs and drove in five more.
THE TRIP CONTINUES: After Sunday's game, the Fireflies will venture to Rome, Georgia, to begin a three-game series with the Braves affiliate. Columbia just defeated Rome in back-to-back games on Monday and Wednesday at Segra Park.
FOLLOW THE LAW: Senior baseball writer at ESPN, Keith Law, ranked Columbia's roster as the 7th-most "Loaded Roster" in all of Minor League Baseball. Law recognized the fact Columbia's roster includes the Mets' past two second-round draft choices (Simeon Woods-Richardson, Mark Vientos), the system's third-rated prospect (Ronny Mauricio), according to Baseball America, and left-hander Thomas Szapucki (drafted in the fifth round in 2015) who's returned after missing all of last season following Tommy John surgery.
YOUTHFUL ENERGY: Columbia's 2019 roster features three teenagers: SS Ronny Mauricio (18), RHP Simeon Woods-Richardson (18) and 3B Mark Vientos (19). All are considered top-10 rated Mets prospects. The Fireflies roster currently includes 10 players aged 21 or younger. Columbia's opening day roster was the youngest (average age 21.6) ever. Take a look below for more information on the prospects in Columbia in 2019.
South Atlantic League Stories from April 14, 2019
- RiverDogs Drop Sunday Finale to Greensboro - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive Falls Short against Rome on Sunday - Greenville Drive
- Sunday No-Fun Day; Tourists Lose 11-3 - Asheville Tourists
- Legends Fall to Fireflies in Series Finale - Lexington Legends
- 'Birds Come Back Again, Sweep Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Fireflies Smash Legends on Sunday, Score Season-High 12 Runs - Columbia Fireflies
- Birds Come Back to Sweep Claws, Winning 6-5 on Sunday - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Sunday's Game Postponed Due to Weather - Hickory Crawdads
- Fireflies Game Notes: April 14 at Lexington (Game 10) - Columbia Fireflies
- Sunday's Game against Augusta Postponed - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Hagerstown Suns Game Notes - Hagerstown Suns
- Game Notes (April 14) - Charleston Dirty Birds
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