Steamers Earn Double Header Split With Sharks
Published on June 15, 2012 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
WILMINGTON, NC - The Wilmington Sharks (10-5) sent 12 men to the plate in the bottom of the first inning, scoring nine times and cruising to a 14-4 victory over the Steamers (10-2) in game one of their double header. Game two was decided in the fourth when Blaise Fernandez took Sharks starter Chris Thomas deep for a grand slam, propelling the Steamers to the double header split by a score of 4-2 at Buck Hardee Field.
Right-handed pitcher Joshua Branstetter (Delta State University) made his first start of the season for the Steamers in game one of a scheduled double header. Making his third start of the season for the Sharks was right-handed pitcher Nick Price. Who entered with no record and 4.22 ERA.
Price began his outing by striking out the first six Steamers he faced through two innings of work.
Wilmington jumped all over Branstetter, batting around in the bottom of the first. Cole McInturf walked and Aaron Preston laid down a bunt. Ray Ortega (Manhattan College), Edenton's catcher, threw the bunted ball down the right field line and McInturf came around to score. Preston ended up at second base and the Sharks lead was 1-0. Zach Stephens was then walked. Preston stole third base and came home on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 Sharks. Lloyd Enzor and Casey Goss reached on back-to-back infield singles to load the bases. After a Grayson Atwood strikeout, Cody Strang knocked in two with a single to make it 4-0 Sharks. Jeffrey May brought home Goss with a single for a 5-0 Sharks lead. Alex Freedman walked to re-load the bases and after a foul out by McInturf, Preston hit a grand slam to complete the scoring for the inning, making it 9-0 Sharks.
Branstetter struck out the side in the bottom of the second, recording his only one-two-three inning of the night.
Edenton picked up their first hit, a Koby Kraemer (Indiana State University) single in the top of the third. The hit was quickly erased by a double play ball. The score remained 9-0 heading to the bottom of the third.
Cody Strang hit a leadoff double in the third for Wilmington. With one out Freedman took a walk and Aaron Preston hit his second home run of the game, a three run blast that bounced on the patio deck out in centerfield for a 12-0 Sharks lead.
Price retired the steamers in order in both the top of the fourth and the fifth innings.
In the bottom of the fourth Wilmington struck again with some help from the Steamer defense. Enzer singled to begin the inning and was put out on a Goss fielder's choice. Atwood hit a high chopper and Branstetter fielded the ball to the third base side of the mound and fired a throw past Spencer Branigan (University of Pennsylvania) at first and down the right field line. Scoring from first base was Goss and ending up at third base was Atwood. One batter later, May drove in Atwood with a single to make it 14-0 Sharks.
Branstetter didn't make it out of the fourth inning, officially pitching 3.2 innings allowing 14 runs (seven earned) on nine hits, five walks and he struck out seven.
Against Price Edenton broke up the shutout in the top of the sixth. Kraemer hit his second home run of the season that made it 14-1 Sharks. Robbie Zinsmeister (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) followed with an infield hit. Jason Kanzler (University of Buffalo) singled and Michael Camporeale (University of Washington) brought them both home with a two-run single to make it 14-3 Sharks. Branigan singled driving in Camporeale and the final score in game one was 14-4 Sharks.
Left-handed pitcher Matt Adams (Southern Polytechnic State) made his first start for the Steamers in game two, facing off against right-handed pitcher Chris Thomas for the Sharks.
The game was scoreless through two full innings. The steamers picked up one hit and the Sharks picked up one walk.
In the bottom of the third against Adams, Wilmington scored twice. Andrew Valencia singled to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Alex Freedman, Cole McInturf drove in Valencia with an RBI double to put Wilmington ahead 1-0. The next batter, Aaron Preston drove in McInturf to make it 2-0. The single gave Preston his eighth RBI in ten innings played.
With one in the top of the fourth Camporeale hit a double. After Branigan struck out, Ortega was hit by a pitch. Wes Meadows (Otterbein University) singled to load the bases. Blaise Fernandez (George Mason University), who has missed the last few games with a hip injury, put one over the left field wall for his first home run of the season and the first grand slam by a Steamer this season. The long ball put Edenton up 4-2.
The game remained 4-2 Steamers until the bottom of the seventh. Matt Adams pitched 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, two walks and he struck out six, earning his first win of the season.
DJ Johnson (Mercer University) retired one batter in the bottom of the sixth and Jordan Egan (Norfolk State University) came on for his sixth save in the bottom of the seventh. Egan allowed a hit and a walk but struck out the side to earn the save and give Matt Adams his first win in a Steamer uniform.
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 Award 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.coastaplain.com and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us on Twitter (as cpleague).
Coastal Plain League Stories from June 15, 2012
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- Wilson Tobs Tobs Fall to Grizzlies - Wilson Tobs
- Steamers Down Pilots For 12th Win - Edenton Steamers
- Steamers Earn Double Header Split With Sharks - Edenton Steamers
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