Steamers Earn Rain-Shortened Victory

June 6, 2013 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release


EDENTON, N.C - Connor Cuff held the Pilots to two runs on two hits and Laz Villa hit a three-run double as the Steamers won a five inning, rain-shortened contest 7-2 on Thursday night at Historic Hicks Field.

Cuff made his second start of the season, opposing him was Danny Grauer, making his first appearance for the Pilots.

Jordan Negrini, who doubled and tripled last night in Peninsula, hit his first home run of the season to give the Pilots an early 1-0 lead.

The Steamer offense awoke with a thunder in the bottom of the second against Grauer. Adam kirsch (Texas Tech University) led the inning off with a single. With one out, Tyler Qualls (Louisiana Tech University) singled, followed by an Alex Delgado (Emmanuel College) RBI single, his first RBI of the season and it tied the game 1-1. Qualls moved to third and Nick Thompson (East Carolina University) walked to load the bases. Laz Villa (Reedley College) drilled a three-run double into the right-centerfield gap to give the Steamers a 4-1 lead.

Edenton tacked on a run in the bottom of the third off Grauer after Kirsch doubled and Qualls knocked him in with an RBI groundout.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Steamers flashed their muscles. Nick Miller (University of Northern Colorado) and Trent Miller (Middle Tennessee State University) both hit solo home runs to push the lead to 7-1. For Nick Miller, it was his first home run and seventh RBI of the season and for Trent Miller the home run was his second of the season and eighth RBI of the season.

The rain started to fall in the fourth inning and in the top of the fifth Connor Cuff began to struggle with his control, due mainly to the wet, muddy conditions of the mound. Cuff walked three Pilots in the inning and hit a batter to give Peninsula a run and cut the lead to 7-2.

After Cuff retired the side in the fifth the umpires cleared the field and an hour and four minute rain delay ensued before the game was officially called and the Steamers earned the victory.

Cuff, for his five innings of two-hit, two run ball, earned his first win of the season. He walked four and struck out one.

Grauer lasted three and two-thirds innings, allowing nine hits and seven runs; he walked four and struck out none, taking his first loss of the season.

Edenton improves to 5-4 on the season and will travel to forest City tomorrow night and then Martinsville on Saturday night before coming back home for three in a row Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Peninsula falls to 4-5 on the year; Edenton now leads the season series 2-1.

The Edenton Steamers are a proud member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 17th season in 2013, 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 m1,000 alumni drafted and 62 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 cplbaseball).



Coastal Plain League Stories from June 6, 2013


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