Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes
Published on June 8, 2013 under Carolina League (CarL1)
Hill City Howlers News Release
LYNCHBURG HILLCATS (30-27) vs. SALEM RED SOX (26-32)
June 8th, 2013 -- 4:05 PM
Calvin Falwell Field at Lynchburg City Stadium
RHP Ryan Weber (3-1, 2.75) vs. RHP Kyle Stroup (3-3, 3.88)
RHP Greg Ross (2-2, 4.36) vs RHP Kyle Kraus (0-0, 2.25)
THE HILLCATS: Have been rained out the past two days, Thursday night in Frederick, and last night in Lynchburg...The 'Cats will not be able to make up the lost game in Frederick since they do not see the Keys again this half...Meanwhile, they were already scheduled to play a doubleheader last night before the postponement, which means there will be back-to-back doubleheaders tonight and tomorrow...The Hillcats last played Wednesday night and lost to the Keys 2-1...RHP A.J. Holland was outstanding throwing eight innings and allowing just one run, but he would take a no-decision...The game went to the ninth tied 1-1 when RHP Ryan Woolley was only able to record one out...He walked one, intentionally walked another, gave up an infield single, and then walked in the winning run...The Hillcats are now 30-27 sitting in third place in the Northern Division, 3.5 games behind the first place Potomac Nationals...
VS. SALEM: The Hillcats are 1-4 against the Red Sox this season...Salem swept the first series they played in Lynchburg 3-0,w ith one game getting postponed due to rain...The last series in Salem was split 1-1 and the finale was postponed due to rain...The 'Cats won the season series 12-8 over the Red Sox last year...They went 7-4 at home against Salem, playing one extra home game because a game in Salem was postponed during a four-game home and home series in which a doubleheader was played in Lynchburg to make up for the Salem rainout...Salem and Lynchburg are closest in vicinity of any two teams in the Carolina League separated by just 57 miles...
WELL RESTED: Lynchburg has not played since Wednesday due to weather...The last time they had two consecutive days off without playing was from April 21-22 in 2012 when back-to-back games were rained out in Lynchburg...The Frederick Keys were in town, and those both games had to be postponed until the next series in June...The 'Cats and Keys played back-to-back doubleheaders June 8-9...The Keys swept the first doubleheader and the Hillcats swept the second twin bill...
GLAD TO BE HOME: The Hillcats return home tonight for the first time in over a week...They went 1-5 over their recent road trip, getting swept in three games by the Potomac Nationals and then losing two of three to the Frederick Keys...The 'Cats began the road trip a season-best seven games over .500 (29-22)...They had the league's best record and were 1.5 games ahead in first place in the Northern Division going into the trip...They are now in third place and 3.5 games out of first...
I SAW RED: Beginning with the doubleheader tonight, the Hillcats will finish the first half with nine games in nine days against the Salem Red Sox...They will mix in three games against the Winston-Salem Dash in those nine days as well...Right now, doubleheaders are scheduled for tonight, tomorrow, and Thursday night in Salem...There is a rule that says no team can play more the three doubleheaders in seven days, so should either team need to play a doubleheader Tuesday or Wednesday, there would need to be some rescheduling for the final weekend...
DOUBLE DIPS: The Hillcats will play their first double header of the season tonight...The Red Sox are 2-3 in doubleheader game this season...Last season, the Hillcats went an even 8-8 in twin bills...
ALL-STARS ANNOUNCED: The Carolina League All-Stars were revealed yesterday...The Myrtle Beach Pelicans accepted the most spots on the roster with five, while the Wilmington Blue Rocks were the only team to reserve just one spot, but all eight teams will be represented in San Jose, CA on June 18th...The Hillcats will send two players, OF Robby Hefflinger and OF David Rohm...In addition, Lynchburg skipper Luis Salazar will manage the Carolina League squad and bring along his pitching coach Derek Botelho and athletic trainer Joe Toenjes...
HILLCATS STARS: OF Robby Hefflinger and OF David Rohm have been named All-Stars for the first time in their careers this season...Hefflinger will start in the outfield, while Rohm will enter as a reserve...
TONIGHT'S OPPOSING PITCHER: RHP Kyle Stroup was selected in 50th round of the 2008 draft by the Red Sox out of Grant Community High School in Fox Lake, IL...Final pick of the 2008 draft...Signed late and didn't debut until 2009...Originally projected to go in the top 10 rounds in 2008, but dropped due to bonus demands (135k in 103.1 innings Jr/Sr years of HS)...Made 12 appearances in relief for the GCL Red Sox his first season (1-1, 4.50; 24ip, 28h, 14bb, 19k)...Missed 2010 with a right ACL injury...Made full season club debut with Low-A Greenville in 2011, 21 starts (6-6, 3.67; 95.2ip, 101h, 26bb, 75k)...Missed 2012 with left ACL injury...Moved up again after rehab this season to Salem...Throws fastball, knuckle curve, and circle change...Big Chicago sports fan (Cubs, Bears, Bulls), and a Kentucky basketball fan...
GAME TWO OPPOSING PITCHER: RHP Kyle Kraus was selected in the seventh round in 2012 by the Red Sox out of the University of Portland...The West Linn, OR native went 27-20 in four years at Portland...All-time winningest pitcher in the school's 89-year history...Selected to the All-West Coast Conference First Team three straight years...Split his first professional season between Short-season Lowell (0-0, 2.61) and Low-A Greenville (0-0, 3.18)...Began 2013 back in Greenville (2-0, 1.96)...Did not allow a run in 10 of 13 appearances...Promoted to Salem on June 3...Made his third career start on June 3 in game two of a doubleheader against the Winston-Salem Dash...Gave up just one run in four innings of work...First appearance against the Hillcats tonight...
Carolina League Stories from June 8, 2013
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- Saturday Split: Salem Drops Opener, Takes Nightcap - Salem RidgeYaks
- Pelicans Calling on Super Heroes, Religious Leaders and Fans to Help "Reverse the Curse," Aid Oklaho - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Winston-Salem Dash Game Notes (June 8 V. Wilmington) - Winston-Salem Dash
- Lynchburg Hillcats Game Notes - Hill City Howlers
- Pelicans Media Notes at Carolina - 6:15 p.m. EST - Game 2 of 3 - Myrtle Beach Pelicans
- Salem Red Sox Game Notes - Salem RidgeYaks
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