Steamers Comeback Effort Falls Short Against 'Dogs
June 17, 2012 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
FAYETTEVILLE, NC - Edenton came back from a three run deficit to take a one-run lead only to have Fayetteville do the same, scoring three times in the bottom of the seventh and winning on Sunday 6-5 at J.P Riddle Stadium.
Right-handed pitcher Kevin McCarthy (Marist College) made his fourth start and fifth appearance overall this season for the Steamers. Drasen Johnson made his seventh appearance of the year and his first start for Fayetteville.
After two scoreless innings on both sides of the diamond the Steamers were retired in order by Johnson in the top of the third. Fayetteville took an early 1-0 lead against McCarthy when Brian Bullard took a leadoff walk and stole second. With one out Zach Gawrych reached on an infield single to put runners on first and third. Joe Ciamacco brought home Bullard with another infield single to make it 1-0 'Dogs.
The score remained 1-0 SwampDogs until the bottom of the fifth. McCarthy was still on the mound and again issued a leadoff walk to Zach Gawrych. Ciamacco hit an RBI double to put Fayetteville up 2-0. One batter later Sal Giardina drove in Ciamacco with an RBI single and the SwampDogs lead was 3-0.
It remained 3-0 'Dogs until the top of the seventh inning. Johnson remained in the game through six solid shutout innings pitched. The Steamers greeted him harshly in seventh by picking up four straight hits and knocking Johnson out of the game. Blaise Fernandez (George Mason University) led off with a single. Michael Camporeale (University of Washington) doubled in Fernandez to cut the lead to 3-1. Spencer Branigan (University of Pennsylvania) traded places with Camporeale with a double of his own to make it 3-2 SwampDogs. Wes Meadows (Otterbein University) singled next and that put runners on first and third with still nobody out. The SwampDogs went to the bullpen and brought in A.J Gaura. Johnson pitched six plus innings allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits, no walks and he struck out three. Gaura struck out Eddie Perkins (Tusculum College), and then Michael Massi (Mercer university) laid down a safety squeeze bunt up the first base line that scored Branigan from third and tied the game 3-3. D.J Johnson (Mercer University) hit a ground ball fielded behind the second base bag and Bullard never got a throw off. Meadows came home to score to give Edenton their first lead of the night 4-3.
The lead didn't last long. Fayetteville came back in the bottom of the seventh with three runs of their own. With one out Gawrych tripled and scored on Ciamacco's RBI single that tied the game. The Steamers went to the bullpen at this point and in came left-handed pitcher Matt Adams Southern Polytechnic State University). Michael Tauchman, the first batter Adams faced hit a two-run home run over the right field wall for a 6-4 'Dogs lead.
Relief pitcher Tyler Brunneman pitched a scoreless inning and Travis Huber (University of Nebraska), for Edenton, countered with a scoreless inning and a third.
Meadows hit his first home run of the season in the top of the ninth inning off Keith Picht but that was all the Steamers got and Fayetteville took the game 6-5.
The Edenton Steamers are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 16th season in 2012, the CPL features 14 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 1,000 alumni drafted and 51 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at 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 17, 2012
- Blowfish Hold off Grizzlies 6-5 - Lexington County Blowfish
- Marlins Plate Three in Eighth, Win Third Straight - Morehead City Marlins
- Tobs Drop Another Heartbreaker - Wilson Tobs
- Owls Sprint Past the Hi-Toms 14-3 - Forest City Owls
- SwampDogs Win Fourth Straight - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Steamers Comeback Effort Falls Short Against 'Dogs - Edenton Steamers
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