Forest City's Diamaduros Breaks CPL Career Hits Record

Published on July 13, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain) News Release


The Race for 159 was neck and neck heading into tonight, as Forest City ‚¬â„¢s Konstantine Diamaduros (Wofford / photo courtesy of Pat Grecinger) and Fayetteville ‚¬â„¢s Eric Grabe (Tampa) were tied at 158 career hits, one shy of breaking former Owl Will Skinner ‚¬â„¢s CPL record mark. In a 6-4 victory over the Gastonia Grizzlies Wednesday night, Diamaduros crossed the finish line first in front of his home fans at McNair Field.

The Owls, winners of five consecutive games and eight of their last nine contests, improve to 8-3 in the second half and 24-14 overall. The Grizzlies slip to 4-7 in the second half and 17-21 overall.

Diamaduros, who has played for the Owls from 2009-11, led off the bottom of the fifth inning with the ballgame tied 2-2. The Owls left fielder, 0-2 heading into that at-bat, smacked the first pitch on a line into center field. With that leadoff single, Diamaduros racked up his 159th career hit, surpassing former Owls teammate and close friend Skinner for the top spot in the CPL ‚¬â„¢s all-time career hits list. Play was stopped as both teams emerged from the dugout to salute Diamaduros ‚¬â„¢ feat and 2,116 fans rose to their feet to regale the three-year Owls veteran with a standing ovation.

Earlier this week, Diamaduros became the new record holder for most career regular season RBIs in Coastal Plain League history. The previous record of 95 was held by Barrett Kleinknecht (Florence 2007-09). Sunday, July 10, Diamaduros went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, giving him 96 career RBIs in regular season play. Currently, he is sitting on 98 in his career and will look to build that number through the rest of the regular season.

Forest City starter Jeremy Fant earned his third win of the season. The Rice sophomore tossed six innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits, striking out seven batters and walking four. Gastonia ‚¬â„¢s Rick Marks took his third loss of the season after throwing 5 2/3 innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on nine hits. Owls closer Adam Izokovic recorded his ninth save of the season.

After Gastonia fired the opening salvo with a run in the top of the first inning, the Owls struck back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Craig Manuel singled through the hole at short, bringing home Danny Canela. On the next at-bat, with the bases still juiced, Michael Basil hit a roller to short. Basil beat out the relay throw from second, allowing Axel Johnson to score. The Owls led 2-1 until the top of the fourth, when Gastonia ‚¬â„¢s Tyler White scored on a passed ball.

The game was all knotted up at 2-2 in the top of the sixth frame when the Grizzlies ‚¬â„¢ Justin Vásquez blasted a two-run home run over the right field wall, giving Gastonia a 4-2 lead. Gastonia ‚¬â„¢s advantage would be short-lived, as the Owls went off for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Forest City added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning, when Reed Harper ‚¬â„¢s sacrifice fly scored Buddy Sosnoskie. Izokovic preserved the Owls ‚¬â„¢ victory by retiring the Grizzlies in order in the top of the ninth.

Manuel went 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Harper went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. Vásquez was the only Grizzlies batter to record a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBIs and a run scored.

The Owls will travel to Asheboro tomorrow night to square off against the Copperheads. First pitch at McCrary Park is set for 7:05 PM.

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Coastal Plain League Stories from July 13, 2011


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