Hi-Toms Get the Better of Owls Again, 7-2
June 11, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Forest City Owls News Release
FOREST CITY, N.C. - The Forest City Owls lost their second game in a row against the Thomasville Hi-Toms Saturday night, this time at McNair Field, by a score of 7-2. Forest City falls to 6-6, while Thomasville improves to 5-5. The Hi-Toms now enjoy a 3-1 advantage in the season series.
Brunswick Community College's Michael Green got the starting nod tonight for the Owls. He went just 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on three hits, striking out three batters and dishing out three walks. Green received his second loss of the season. Thomasville's Mike Mayers earned his first victory of the season. Mayers tossed five innings, allowing just one run on four hits, striking out five batters and walking one.
The Owls struck first in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, 1B Dusty Quattlebaum singled to right field, driving home 3B Jordan Betts. The Owls led 1-0 after three innings.
Thomasville immediately returned fire. After 3B Brock Hebert doubled and advanced to third on a throwing error by Owls CF Buddy Sosnoskie (making his CPL debut), 1B Ryan Kinsella notched his team-leading tenth RBI by singling Hebert home. Two at-bats later, catcher Jacob Fisher doubled to left center field, plating Kinsella. After Brennan Huelse entered in relief of Green and with SS Stephen Carmon at the plate, Owls catcher P.J. Torres fired to first in an attempt to pick off LF Garrett Koster. The throw went awry, allowing Fisher to score. Thomasville led 3-1 after four frames.
Forest City put up a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. In his first game as a member of the Owls, LF Cameron Conner grounded out to second base, permitting RF Axel Johnson to cross home plate. The Owls managed to pull within a run of Thomasville, 3-2.
However, that's as close as Forest City would get. The Hi-Toms scored four runs over the last two innings. CF Patrick Koontz was at the plate in the top of the eighth inning when Owls reliever Ryan Tezak unleashed a wild pitch, pushing Kinsella home. Later on, Koster singled off Brad MacHaffie, scoring DH Alex Williams. Thomasville owned a 5-2 advantage at the end of the eighth inning.
The Hi-Toms did not let up in the ninth inning. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Hebert grounded into a fielder's choice, scoring RF James Harris. A couple of at-bats later, with Williams at the plate, Owls reliever Greg Harrison threw the team's second wild pitch, bringing Carmon home. Travis Tingle entered the game in the bottom of the ninth inning for Thomasville, slamming the door on the Owls and preserving the Hi-Toms' 7-2 victory.
Kinsella was the Hi-Toms' offensive standout Saturday night. He went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Hebert went 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Diamaduros was the only Owl to register a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a double. Quattlebaum and Conner finished with an RBI. The two newest Owls, Conner and Sosnoskie, finished a combined 0-for-8 with three strikeouts. Forest City recorded multiple errors for the sixth game this season.
The Owls have their first off day of the season tomorrow. They return to the diamond on Monday night at McCrary Park to take on the Asheboro Copperheads. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 PM.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from June 11, 2011
- Marlins Stifle Sharks, Prolong Win Streak - Morehead City Marlins
- Hi-Toms Get the Better of Owls Again, 7-2 - Forest City Owls
- Bullpen Falters as Blowfish Blow Late Lead - Lexington County Blowfish
- Tobs Fly by Pilots - Wilson Tobs
- Fayetteville Drops Ten-Inning Thriller to Florence, 3-2 - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- HiToms down Owls, again - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Early runs not enough in Sharks' loss - Wilmington Sharks
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