Steamers Take First Loss To Wilson
June 12, 2012 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
WILSON, NC - It took eight innings for the Steamers to finally get a hit; a Nathan Burns double in the top of the ninth as the Steamers dropped their first contest of 2012 4-2 to the Wilson Tobs at Historic Fleming Stadium.
Right-handed pitcher Kevin McCarthy (Marist College) made his fourth appearance overall and third start of the season for Edenton, in their first meeting with the Tobs in 2012. On the mound for the Tobs was right-handed pitcher Zeke McGranahan, making his third start of the year for the Tobs.
Both the Steamers and the Tobs stranded runners in the first inning and then McGranahan and McCarthy both retired the side in order in the second inning. McCarthy struck out the side in the bottom half.
Wilson took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third when Ben Fish took a leadoff walk. Joey Hawkins laid down a bunt, moving Fish up to second base. Goeff Jimenez picked up the first hit of the game for Wilson and it drove in Fish for the 1-0 lead.
After walking Jason Kanzler (University of Buffalo) to begin the game, McGranahan retired the next twelve Steamers in a row. In the top of the fifth Spencer Branigan (University of Pennsylvania) walked to leadoff the inning. Branigan was then picked off of first base and in the run down, Branigan ran into the Tobs second baseman Joey Hawkins and interference was called on Hawkins and Branigan was awarded second base. McGranahan then threw a wild pitch to move Branigan up to third and Koby Kraemer (Indiana State University) hit a fly ball to right field that Branigan tagged up on to tie the game at 1-1.
McCarthy pitched five innings, allowing just the one run on two hits, three walks and he struck out six; he would not factor in the decision. He gave way in the bottom of the sixth after the Steamers stranded two runners in the top half of the sixth, to right-handed pitcher Taylor Braun (Wright State University).
McGranahan held the Steamers hitless through seven innings, allowing only five runners to reach, four by way of the walk and one hit batsman.
The game remained 1-1 into the seventh inning. McGranahan faced three batters in the seventh and Edenton stranded no one, having Ray Ortega (Manhattan College) retired on a fielder's choice and Kraemer caught stealing.
Wilson re-took the lead in the bottom of the seventh against Braun. After he pitched a scoreless sixth inning, Braun relinquished a leadoff double to Ben Fish in the seventh. Zach Lee reached on an infield bunt single and Geoff Jimenez hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Fish from third.
McGranahan was lifted after seven hitless innings, he allowed one run (unearned) on four walks and he struck out five. He left in line for the win, leading 2-1.
Zach Merciez came into the game and got a ground out for the first out in the eighth. DJ Johnson (Mercer University) reached on an error and Kanzler hit into a four-six-three double play to end the inning.
Right-handed pitcher Matt Duncan came in for Edenton in the bottom of the eighth and Philip Williams hit a leadoff triple. After a strikeout by Aaron Rea, Tony Montalbano reached on an error and Collin Cuthrell struck out looking for the second out. Ben Fish came up with runners on second and third and hit a sky-high pop up in the infield that nobody caught. The ball dropped in between the third baseman Kraemer, the catcher Ortega and Duncan the pitcher for a two-run single that made the score 4-1 Wilson heading to the ninth.
Merciez remained in the game in the top of the ninth to try and close out the 4-1 Wilson win. Nathan Burns (Florida International University) hit a leadoff double and moved to third on an error by the third baseman Rea of the Tobs. Michael Camporeale (University of Washington) hit into a one-four-three double play that scored Burns to make it 4-2 Wilson. Branigan then walked and Ortega flew out to end the ball game.
McGranahan earned the win for his seven hitless innings, Braun took the loss for his one and one third innings pitched, allowing four hits and one run, he struck out two. Merciez earned his first save of the season for his two innings of work.
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 930 alumni drafted and 51 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 http://www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cpleague).
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