Steamers Drop First Half Finale

June 29, 2012 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release


PETERSBURG, VA - The Edenton Steamers (18-8) comeback attempt fell one run short in Petersburg on Friday as Edenton dropped the first half finale 7-6 to the Generals (14-14) at Petersburg Sports Complex.

On the mound for the Steamers was the righty Taylor Braun, making his third start of the season for the Steamers. Opposing Braun was the right-handed pitcher J.T Wauford for the Petersburg Generals.

Neither team crossed the plate in either of the first two innings. Edenton took a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. Michael Massi (Mercer University) led off the frame with a single and Robbie Zinsmeister (Indiana State University of Pennsylvania) doubled him to third base. Jason Kanzler (University at Buffalo) was then hit by the pitch and Blaise Fernandez (George Mason University) took an RBI walk to give Edenton a 1-0 lead. Madison Beaird (Arkansas Tech University) followed with a double play ball that scored Zinsmeister for the 2-0 lead.

Petersburg, in the bottom of the third took their first lead of the night. Ricky Castro reached on an infield single and stole second base. A passed ball moved him to third base and he scored on Dillon Vitale's RBI single two batters later to cut the Steamer lead in half; 2-1. After William Ward laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved up Matt Winn to third base and Vitale to second, Nolan Woody hit a three run home run over the left field fence for a 4-2 Generals lead.

In the top of the fourth the Steamers reclaimed the lead with a three run effort. The rally started with a Wes Meadows (Otterbein University) solo home run, his second home run of the season, followed by back-to-back walks. Zinsmeister was retired on an infield fly and Kanzler singled home Adam Kirsch (Florida International University) tie the game at 4-4. On the play a throwing error by the left fielder William Ward allowed the trail runner Massi to score and give Edenton a 5-4 lead.

Trailing in the bottom of the fifth the back and forth contest continued. Braun walked Winn to begin the inning. Winn moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Vitale and third base on a groundout by Ward. Ryan Parker then walked and Nolan Woody was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Taylor Braun faced Taylor Buran and Buran picked up his first hit of the season, a two-run double to make it 6-5 Generals.

Petersburg added a run in the bottom of the sixth against right-handed pitcher Troy Scribner (Sacred Heart University). Scribner was making his first appearance for the Steamers. Ryan Hickey led off for the Steamers with a double. He moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and came home to score on a suicide squeeze bunt by Matt Winn to push the Generals lead to 7-5.

Matt Duncan (Morehead State University) pitched out of bases loaded one out jam by picking up two strikeouts, both looking to hold the Generals scoreless in the bottom of the seventh.

Edenton was held scoreless in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings by Wauford, and Nicholas Costa who entered with two outs in the fifth for Wauford.

Edenton, with two outs had Massi reach on an error and then Zinsmeister walked. Jason Kanzler hit an absolute seed against right-handed pitcher Matt Moore right at the second baseman Jake Yacinich to end the inning. Moore remained in the game in the top of the ninth and struck out Fernadez looking for the first out, and then Madison Beaird walked. Michael Camporeale doubled in Beaird to make it a one run deficit, 7-6 Generals. Spencer Branigan (University of Pennsylvania) flew out and Meadows grounded out to third base to end the ball game.

Braun took the loss for his five innings pitched. He allowed six runs (all earned) on five hits, he walked three and struck out two. His record is now 1-2. Nicholas Costa took the win for his 2.1 innings pitched in relief, allowing just one hit and no runs; improving to 1-0. Lucas Staub earned his first save of the season recording two outs to end the ball game.



Coastal Plain League Stories from June 29, 2012


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