Second Time's The Charm For Owls vs. Gastonia
June 4, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Forest City Owls News Release
GASTONIA, N.C. - The Forest City Owls defeated/succumbed to the Gastonia Grizzlies, 7-4, Saturday night at Sims Legion Park. It was the second matchup between these two teams in as many nights. Gastonia downed Forest City, 2-0, Friday night at McNair Field. The Owls improve to 2-3. The Grizzlies fall to 2-3.
Catawba sophomore and Owls veteran Nick Lomascolo took the mound for the first time this season. He tossed 6 2/3 innings, surrendering four runs on ten hits, striking out five batters and walking one. Lomascolo came away with his first victory of the season.
The Grizzlies got on the board first in bizarre fashion. With one out and right fielder Justin Vásquez at the plate, Tyler White found himself in a rundown between first and second after Lomascolo attempted a pickoff throw to first. While White took the Owls infield on an adventure, Grizzlies second baseman Dan Hennigan was able to score. Gastonia finished the first inning ahead 1-0.
Forest City answered in the top of the fourth, thanks to some defensive miscues by Vásquez. After Vásquez dropped a fly ball to deep right from Owls first baseman Dusty Quattlebaum, right fielder Axel Johnson smoked a hot bouncer over Hennigan's head, scoring Quattlebaum. The Owls added another run when Vásquez sailed a throw to third on catcher Dan Burant's single, scoring Jake Watson. Forest City ended the top half of the fourth inning with a 2-1 lead.
The Owls tacked on a trio of runs in the top of the fifth. Quattlebaum smacked a two-out double into the left field gap that scored Jordan Betts. The next batter, Johnson, hit a double into right field that scored Quattlebaum. Not to be outdone, Greg Harrison laced a double down the left field line that plated Johnson. The Owls boosted their advantage to 5-1.
Forest City continued to pour it on in the seventh inning. Harrison struck again against reliever Talton Cherry, hitting a two-run single up the middle to score Quattlebaum. Immediately afterward, Watson singled to right field, plating Harrison. The Owls led 7-1 heading into the seventh-inning stretch.
The Grizzlies were able to muster three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Dallas Burke scored while Ryne Briley grounded into a double play. An at-bat later, Hennigan singled to right, bringing Adam Hilker around to score. Benji Jackson's double down the left-field line scored Hennigan and knocked Lomascolo out of the ballgame. West Virginia freshman Ryan Tezak entered the contest in relief and struck out Tyler White to cap the seventh. The Grizzlies cut the lead to 7-4.
Tezak closed the game out for the Owls. He got Hennigan to ground into a double play to finish the ballgame.
The Owls return to McNair Field on Sunday afternoon, hosting the Columbia Blowfish. First pitch is scheduled for 5:00 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 800 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).
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Coastal Plain League Stories from June 4, 2011
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- Steamers earn 2-1 victory - Edenton Steamers
- Second Time's The Charm For Owls vs. Gastonia - Forest City Owls
- Wilson Drops another Game to Edenton - Coastal Plain
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