SAL1 Charleston Dirty Birds

Power Open Season With 8-0 Loss

Published on April 7, 2011 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Charleston Dirty Birds News Release


The West Virginia Power opened the 2011 season Thursday night with an 8-0 loss to the Savannah Sand Gnats at Appalachian Power Park. The Sand Gnats in each of the first four innings to establish a lead the Power could not overcome thanks to strong Savannah pitching.

Darrell Ceciliani doubled to leadoff the game for Savannah and scored three batters later on a Sam Honeck single. Cory Vaughn, son of former Major Leaguer Greg Vaughn, also scored in the first to build a 2-0 lead.

The Power were retired in order on strikes in the bottom of the first inning by Greg Peavey, making his professional debut. The Sand Gnats would extend the lead for Peavey with a three run second, including a two-run home run by Ceciliani, a run in the third, and a run in the fourth to build a 7-0 advantage. Savannah's final run came in the eighth inning to cap the scoring.

Peavy (1-0) limited the Power to a pair of hits, their only two of the game, while striking out eight over five innings. Two Sand Gnat pitchers combined with Peavy to retire the final 14 consecutive batters they faced. Brandon Cumpton (0-1) allowed seven runs on nine hits over four innings in the loss for West Virginia.

Matt Curry and Eric Avila had the only base hits for the Power, while four different Sand Gnats had multi-hit games.

Attendance on Opening Day was 4,807; the third largest crowd at a home opener since Appalachian Power Park opened in 2005. The largest Opening Day crowd gathered on April 6, 2006, as 5,742 saw the Power beat Delmarva 1-0. The second was the year prior when the ballpark opened as 5,354 entered the gates for the first time.

West Virginia and Savannah continue this four-game series Friday night at Appalachian Power Park. Gates open at 6:00 for Faith Night featuring an appearance by Nitro product J.R. House, the first pitch is scheduled for 7:05, and fireworks will follow the final out.

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South Atlantic League Stories from April 7, 2011


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