Steamers Win First Place Showdown With Owls
June 26, 2012 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release
EDENTON, NC - Jason Kanzler lined a two-run triple down the right field line to break a tie in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Steamers (17-7) secured a tight 6-4 victory over the West Division leading Forest City Owls (18-7) on Tuesday at Historic Hicks Field.
Kevin McCarthy (Marist College) got the nod for the Steamers for his fifth start of the season against Ryan Hander who made his fourth start of the season for the Owls.
After a one, two, three top of the first by McCarthy the Steamers took a 1-0 lead when Jason Kanzler (University of Buffalo) led off with a single and stole second base. Koby Kraemer (Indiana State University) laid down a sacrifice bunt that moved Kanzler up to third and Madison Beaird (Arkansas Tech University) brought him home on an infield RBI single to make it 1-0 Steamers.
Forest City took their first lead of the night in the top of the second inning. Alex Close hit his first home run of the season, a solo bomb off McCarthy to tie the game at 1-1. Two batters later Ryan Welke walked and Dykota Spiess doubled to put runners on second and third. Justin Bryan singled and Welke scored. On the play Steamer right fielder Madison Beaird threw out Spiess at the plate to keep the score at 2-1 Forest City.
Forest City added to their lead in the top of the third on a solo home run by T.J Sutton off McCarthy to make it 3-1 Forest City Owls.
In the top of the fourth Ryan Welke doubled to begin the inning. Dykota Spiess doubled right behind him off the glove of a diving Spencer Branigan (University of Pennsylvania) to put runners on second and third. Second baseman Koby Kraemer threw the ball from foul territory to second and the throw sailed over the glove of shortstop Robbie Zinsmeister (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) and into left field, allowing Welke to score and push the Owl lead to 4-1.
The Steamers, who had been held scoreless from the second inning through the fourth inning, took McCarthy off the hook in the bottom of the fifth.
McCarthy pitched four innings and allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits and two walks and he struck out two batters.
After left-handed pitcher Eddie Perkins pitched a one, two, three top of the fifth the Steamer offense awoke. Kanzler hit his second home run of the season, a solo homer to make it 4-2 Owls. Beaird singled with one out two batters later and Michael Camporeale (University of Washington) reached on an error that allowed Beaird to move to third base. Camporeale stole second base and Blaise Fernandez (George Mason university), with two outs, doubled both runners home to tie the game at 4-4.
DJ Johnson (Mercer University) stranded the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, and a runner at third base in the seventh. In the eighth, Johnson allowed a double and a walk with a strikeout in between and was lifted for right-handed pitcher Travis Huber (University of Nebraska). Huber got Justin Bryan to hit a line drive that a leaping Robbie Zinsmeister caught and shoveled to Kraemer covering second to double off Stephen Tarkenton and end the inning.
Edenton in the bottom of the eighth was issued three walks in a row. Adam Kirsch (Florida International University), the first batter walked was thrown out trying to move up to second base on a ball that got away from the catcher Ryan Welke for the first out. With one out and runners on first and second the Owls went to their bullpen and brought in Jake Padgett to face Kanzler. Kanzler lined a two-run triple down the right field line that scored both Michael Massi (Mercer University) and Zinsmeister to give Edenton a 6-4 lead.
Jordan Egan (Norfolk State University) came into the game in the top of the ninth and retired the Owls in order for his Coastal Plain League leading ninth save of the season. Huber got the win in relief and improved to 1-1 while Herndon took the loss in relief falling to 1-2.
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 26, 2012
- Steamers Win First Place Showdown With Owls - Edenton Steamers
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