Owls Win an Epic in Walkoff Fashion vs. Asheboro
Published on June 18, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Forest City Owls News Release
FOREST CITY, N.C. - In a 15-inning contest that seemed as if it was ripped straight from the pages of an ancient Homeric epic, the Forest City Owls outlasted the Asheboro Copperheads by a score of 5-4 at McNair Field on Saturday night. The Owls improve to 11-7 and have won five out of their last six games. Asheboro, who entered the game atop the West Division and owning the league's best record, falls to 13-5. Forest City owns a 3-0 advantage in the season series and took the first game of a three-game series against Asheboro. The Copperheads are now 2-1 in extra inning games, while the Owls claim victory in their first extra-inning contest. The 2,300 spectators in attendance bore witness to the longest game of the 2011 CPL season thus far.
Both teams received solid performances by their starting pitchers. Nick Lomascolo threw 6 1/3 innings for Forest City, allowing a run on three hits, striking out three batters and issuing three walks. Asheboro's Charlie McCready, who entered the game without having given up an earned run all season, surrendered two runs on four hits in seven innings of action, striking out three hitters and walking one.
When the dust settled, ten pitchers had taken the mound, six for Forest City and four for Asheboro. Ryan Quick, normally a starter for the Owls, pitched the final two innings of the ballgame, earning this third win of the season. Tanner Merritt tossed four innings of work, only allowing the game-winning home run, and took home his first loss of the season.
Ironically, the ballgame was proceeding at an extremely brisk pace through seven innings. The Owls struck first in the bottom of the second inning, when LF Cameron Conner smashed a solo home run over the left field wall, his first of the season. Two innings later, SS Reed Harper blasted a solo homer to boost Forest City's lead to 2-0 after four frames.
The Copperheads returned fire in the top of the sixth inning, when 3B Jacob Wilson rifled a single into center field that scored RF Sam Pichiotti, cutting the Owls lead to 2-1. Asheboro went off in the top of the eighth inning, scoring three runs and claiming a 4-2 lead over the Owls heading into the bottom of the inning. CF Austin Kingsolver got the scoring started with an RBI triple that scored Brian Wolfe. An at-bat later, pinch hitter Ryan Bostian smoked a single up the middle, scoring Kingsolver. Later on, 1B Trey Holmes grounded out to first base, scoring Bostian.
Forest City retaliated with a couple of runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. With runners on second and third and one out, DH Konstantine Diamaduros lifted a sacrifice fly to right field, allowing catcher P.J. Torres to score. The following at-bat, Harper singled to center field, bringing 3B Jordan Betts home. The scoreboard read 4-4 through the first nine innings.
Both sides were unable to bring any runners across the plate during the first four innings. Finally, in the bottom of the fifteenth inning, Betts blasted a solo home run over the left field fence, delivering a 5-4 victory to the Owls. The Owls are the only team to have beaten the Copperheads three times this season.
These two teams will square off again tomorrow night at McCrary Park in Asheboro. First pitch is set for 7:05 PM.
The Forest City Owls are a member of the Coastal Plain League, entering their 15th season in the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 15th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 930 alumni drafted and 44 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cpleague).
Coastal Plain League Stories from June 18, 2011
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