SAL1 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

I's Earn First Sweep of Season

Published on April 22, 2018 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers News Release


The Kannapolis Intimidators (11-6) cruised by the Greenville Drive 11-1 Sunday evening on Nick Jr. PAW Patrol Day to cap off the four-game series sweep, proving to be their fourth straight double-digit run game against the Drive at Intimidators Stadium supported by Atrium Health.

Following a dominant night on the mound from Kade McClure the night before, Lincoln Henzman (W, 1-2) followed in his college teammate's footsteps with a gem of his own, only allowing two hits in six innings of work, while striking out four Drive (3-14) batters.

Despite the great outing from Henzman, he was overshadowed by the fourth straight offensive showcase by the Intimidators that started in the fourth inning. Down by one, the Intimidators used back-to-back-to-back singles from Luis Gonzalez, Johan Cruz and Justin Yurchak at the top of the lineup to set up a bases loaded situation for cleanup hitter, Craig Dedelow. With bases chucked full of I's, the 6-foot-4 Kannapolis left fielder smacked a double down the left field line, scoring Gonzalez and Cruz to give the Intimidators a 2-1 lead.

Later in the inning, Tate Blackman picked up his first of three hits of the day with a single to left field, scoring Yurchak and Dedelow to give the I's a three-run lead after four innings in Kannapolis, North Carolina.

After being hit by a pitch from Greenville starter Jhonathan Diaz (L, 1-2), Tyler Frost moved to second on a passed ball and then advanced to third on a wild pitch, leaving just 90 feet in between him and the fifth run for the I's. On a 2-1 pitch, Johan Cruz hit a slow-roller to first baseman Michael Osinski, who attempted to throw out Frost at the plate, but the Kannapolis center fielder was too fast as he used a headfirst slide to score the fifth run for Kannapolis.

Already up by four in the sixth, the Intimidators added on another four runs in the inning, as Evan Skoug led off with a walk, advancing to second on a nice dirtball read from the I's catcher. After a Blackman single, Laz Rivera singled on a ball hit up the middle, scoring Skoug from third base and moving Blackman to second. After a line-out to center field off the bat of Carlos Perez, moving Blackman to third, Frost singled on a soft line drive to left field, scoring Blackman to give the I's a 7-1 lead.

With manager Iggy Suarez getting ejected after arguing pitches for Greenville, Cruz hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder Victor Acosta, as Rivera jogged home to put Kannapolis up by seven runs. Yurchak picked up his second hit of the day and lone RBI with a line-drive single up the middle, putting the I's up 9-1.

The Intimidators scored two more runs in the eighth, with one of those coming off a Frost (4) bomb to the left field, his third home run in as many days.

The Intimidators will look to build upon their four-game win streak as they travel to the Delmarva Shorebirds for a four-game series starting Monday at 7:05 p.m.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 22, 2018


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