Owls Soar Past Hi-Toms, 6-2
Published on June 21, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Forest City Owls News Release
FOREST CITY, N.C. - Timely hitting and a sterling performance from starting pitcher Jeremy Fant propelled the Forest City Owls over the Thomasville Hi-Toms, 6-2, Tuesday night at McNair Field. Tonight's contest was the first of a two-game home-and-away set. The Owls improve to 14-7, while the Hi-Toms drop to 9-11. Forest City has now won five games in a row and eight of their last nine contests.
Fant was electric in his second start of the summer. The Rice right-hander tossed seven innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out seven hitters and walking two. Fant earned his second victory of the season.
Conner Scarborough had his best outing of the season. He threw five innings, allowing just two hits without giving up a run, striking out four batters and issuing a walk. Reliever Austin Moyer took his fourth loss of the year, giving up two runs in an inning of relief.
In what has become a bit of a recurring theme during their winning streak, the Owls' opponent scored first. With runners on second and third and one out in the top of the third inning, CF Patrick Koontz struck out swinging, but the ball got away from Owls catcher Craig Manuel. While Manuel threw to first to complete the strikeout, 3B Brock Hebert scampered home.
The Hi-Toms clutched a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the seventh, when the Owls went on a now-familiar late-inning offensive explosion. It all started when Hi-Toms 2B Tyler Hall threw the ball away trying to retire Manuel on a sacrifice bunt attempt. 1B Eric Fisher was able to score, tying the game. Four at-bats later, with the bases loaded and two outs, SS Reed Harper laced a double into center field, clearing the bases. Forest City scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh and took a 4-1 lead into the eighth inning.
The Owls added a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Manuel grounded out to short, allowing LF Cameron Conner to score. In the next at-bat, 2B Jake Watson poked a single up the middle, scoring Fisher. The Hi-Toms scored a run off Owls reliever Adam Izokovic in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough, as the Owls wrapped up a 6-2 victory.
Harper went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, all coming off an RBI double in the bottom of the seventh inning. Fisher went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Watson hit 2-for-4 with an RBI. Thomasville DH Alex Williams went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
These two teams cap off their two-game mini-series tomorrow night in Thomasville. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 PM from Historic Finch Field.
Coastal Plain League Stories from June 21, 2011
- Tobs Power Past Mustangs, 7-6 - Wilson Tobs
- Steamers Take 9-6 Win - Edenton Steamers
- Owls Soar Past Hi-Toms, 6-2 - Forest City Owls
- Sharks Bats Explode Late In Exhibition Win - Wilmington Sharks
- Late Inning Miscues Doom HiToms - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Fayetteville and Morehead City Suspended in Second Inning - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- John Long Shines as Blowfish Win - Lexington County Blowfish
- Marlins Beat Sharks 6-3 in Extras - Morehead City Marlins
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