SAL1 Lexington Legends

Legends Win Third Straight Over Hickory

Published on April 17, 2008 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Lexington Legends News Release


HICKORY, NC - While the long weather-specific drought that has plagued the town of Hickory, North Carolina as of late still remains, the Lexington Legends (5-10) ended their own personal drought tonight as they obtained their first series win of the 2008 season, defeating the Hickory Crawdads (8-7) 8-3 on the road.

Hickory has been prone to droughts in the past two decades. From 1998-2002, the city suffered through what was at the time their worst drought ever, with precipitation 66.7 inches below normal. In 2007, they went through a faster decline of rainfall.

Despite the 2008 drought that leaves a dry field withering with yellow-brown and dying grass remaining at L. P. Frans Stadium, the Legends continued to blossom on their six-game road trip, extending their winning streak to three games.

Three runs in the first inning, dominating offensive performances by the majority of the hitters that included two home runs, and a strong pitching performance by starting right-hander Colt Adams (1-1, 4.05 ERA) was all that the Legends needed to secure the win.

Second baseman Matt Cusick started off the first with a double to center, and after advancing to third on a ground out by third baseman Craig Corrado, scored on a single to left field by left fielder Collin DeLome. With two outs, right fielder Steve Brown belted a two-run home run to left, scoring himself and DeLome. Although first baseman Eric Taylor went on to walk and catcher Jonathan Fixler sufficiently executed a hit and run with a line drive single to right, they were left on base.

In the bottom of the second, Roberto Mena went in to replace Corrado, who, after hitting a bouncing ball to the shortstop, appeared to injure himself as he hurried out of the box and tried to beat the ball to first base. He then went into the clubhouse for the rest of the game.

With the exception of Corrado, all of the Legends batters had at least one hit on the board. Four of the Legends had multi-hit games, two of which had three hits. The Legends overpowered the Crawdads, collecting fifteen hits total to the Crawdads' eight. Only five of the Crawdads players had hits.

DeLome led the Legends' offense, going 3-for-5 with 3 runs scored, 3 RBI's, and one home run, bumping his average up to .250. In the top of the seventh, DeLome belted a two-run shot 350 feet plus over the right field wall to extend the Legends' lead to 8-2. This was his second two-run homer in two days, as he hit the game-winning homer the night before for the Legends' 5-4 victory on Wednesday.

Despite statistically having the best pitching staff, Hickory's starter, right hander Dustin Molleken (1-1, 2.81), and righty Carlos Amaro, could not help the Crawdads maintain that status tonight, with both giving up four runs each, Molleken in four innings and Amaro in two.

For the Legends, Adams went six innings, giving up six hits, allowing one earned run, walking none, and striking out five. Righty Robert Leonhardt (S,1, 7.94 ERA) got his first save of the year, going three innings, allowing three hits, giving up one run, one walk, and striking out two. They both combined to end Crawdads left fielder Miles Durham's previous 12-game hitting streak, as Durham went 0-3 with an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first. The Legends return to action tomorrow night at 7:05pm to try to take the sweep versus the Crawdads.

Story written by Laura Pepper, Lexington Legends

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 17, 2008


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