Sports stats

SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators Sweep DH, Gain Ground

August 22, 2010 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


GREENSBORO, NC - Going into the Sunday doubleheader against the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the Kannapolis Intimidators need to play well and take both games, and that's exactly what they did winning game one 5-0 and taking game two 9-5. The Intimidators gained on everyone ahead of them in the SAL Northern Division standings and are a half-game out of second and 4.5 out of first when the standings are printed tomorrow.

In the first game, Andre Rienzo started and pitched a complete game shutout, his second of the season, as he allowed just three hits and no walks with nine strikeouts. Rienzo (7-4), who has won seven straight decisions since starting the season 0-4, had a perfect game through 4.2 innings before he allowed a single.

The Intimidators (28-28) hit three home runs in the game, the first coming from Trayce Thompson in the second, a solo shot and his first since May 12th, to give the visiting team a 1-0 lead. In the sixth, the Intimidators saw Nick Ciolli and Ian Gac go back-to-back with home runs, a two-run and solo shot to extend the lead to 4-0. Later in the inning, Miguel Gonzalez, in his second straight two-hit game, plated Thompson to take the advantage to five.

Chris Shafer (0-1) started the game for Greensboro (28-28) and went three innings allowing just the one run and Curtis Petersen went the final four, allowing four runs, three earned in the game.

Game two started well as the Intimidators jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second with RBI singles from both Kevin Dubler and Daniel Wagner, but off Matt Hopps in the bottom of the inning, the Grasshoppers had a 3-2 advantage.

The game remained 3-2 until the fourth when the Intimidators got to starter Edgar Olmos (3-7) as Dubler led the inning off with a walk and Wagner hit a bunt single. With first and second and no one down, Saladino bunted and the Grasshoppers made a costly error that scored Dubler and made it second and third with no one down and a run in. Ciolli batted next and scored both runners on a single and then with two down, Vargas capped the scoring with an RBI single to give the Intimidators a 6-3 lead.

In the sixth inning, the Intimidators added to their advantage as Thompson hit his second home run of the day, a three-run shot to give the Intimidators a 9-3 lead.

Hopps (2-10) settled down after the second and gave the Intimidators a great performance. He allowed two runs in the sixth inning but ended going 5.2 in a situation where the Intimidators needed to save their bullpen arms. Orlando Santos was summoned in a 9-4 game with the bases loaded and allowed a walk before getting Chad Cregar to pop up as the tying run at the plate. Santos completed his 13th save of the season in the seventh.

The Intimidators are now 10-10 in doubleheader games as they have won their last four and have won four of five putting them back at .500. With one loss from each Hickory and Lakewood today and two from Greensboro, the Intimidators now find themselves tied with Greensboro, .5 back of Hickory and 4.5 back of Lakewood with 14 games to play. The BlueClaws still have to play Hickory and finish the season with four with the Intimidators. However, it may be too little too late.

Ryan Buch will take to the hill on Monday in game four of the five-game series and he will be opposed by Erick Carillo as Kannapolis looks to keep winning and seeing what happens from there. The game at NewBridge Bank Park will begin at 7:00 pm.

Check out the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Statistics



South Atlantic League Stories from August 22, 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.

Other Recent Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central