SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

Intimidators win home opener

Published on April 15, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


KANNAPOLIS, N.C. - The Kannapolis Intimidators took advantage of two botched Hickory double plays en route to a 5-3 win in their home opener at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium on Friday night.

Starting pitcher RHP Jake Petricka continued his strong start to the 2011 season, shutting out Hickory through five innings of work, striking out seven batters while allowing four hits and one walk. Petricka (1-0), who has yet to allow a run this season, earned the win.

With the bases loaded and one out in the second inning, Intimidators RF Ryan Hamme grounded back to pitcher Matt Thompson who threw the second base where Crawdads shortstop Jurickson Profar cut in front of second baseman Odubel Herrera and dropped the ball. Instead of an inning-ending double-play, 1B Dan Black cross the plate for an early 1-0 lead. Thompson hit Kyle Eveland, bringing home another run, and CF Trayce Thompson reached on an RBI fielders choice, giving Kannapolis a 3-0 edge.

The Intimidators put runners on the first and third with one out in the fourth inning. 3B Jake Oester grounded to the shortstop who flipped to second base for the force out, but Herrera lost the ball on the transfer, failing to complete the double-play and allowing SS Juan Silverio to score from third putting Kannapolis up, 4-0.

Hickory responded in the sixth when Josh Richmond's RBI groundout against LHP Spencer Arroyo put the Crawdads on the board, and Jhonny Gomez followed with a two-run single to pull Hickory within a run, 4-3.

RHP Jimmy Ballinger helped Kannapolis out of a jam in the seventh, retiring Richmond with the go-ahead run on base for Hickory. Ballinger shut down the Crawdads in the eighth and ninth innings for his first save of the season.

Kannapolis added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth when C Mike Blanke led off the inning with a triple, and Black drove him home. Blank finished the game 3-for-4 with three extra-base hits.

The Intimidators face the Crawdads on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium. RHP Matt Heidenreich will take the mound for Kannapolis against Hickory's RHP Justin Grimm. Saturday's game will feature post-game fireworks presented by CMC-NorthEast.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 15, 2011


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