Steamers Win Tenth in a Row, Inch Closer to First Half Title

June 22, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Edenton Steamers News Release


EDENTON, NC - Esterlin Paulino improved to 3-1 with 6.2 innings pitched against the Tobs, allowing six hits, two runs (both earned), one walk and he struck out four batters as the Steamers won their tenth game in a row.

Paulino stepped on the mound for the second time against the Tobs in Wilson in 2011. His previous outing was a seven inning, one-hit gem for the Steamers that led to a 2-0 Edenton victory.

The game went scoreless to the top of the third inning. The Steamers had their first two batters in the top of the third retired with relative ease and then Brian Blasik hit a single and stole second base. Ryan Brenner reached on an infield single that moved Blasik to third and then Brenner swiped second base. Joey Wendle increased his team leading RBI total to 17 with a two-run double that put the Steamers up 2-0.

Wilson cut the lead in half in the bottom of the third when Keith Morrisroe hit a one out double. Alex Jones hit a single that put runners on first and third. Steve Nikorak hit a chopper to first base that allowed Morrisroe to score from third and put Wilson on the scoreboard 2-1.

Both Paulino and Bebout threw up zeros in the fourth and fifth frames at Historic Fleming Stadium.

Edenton added a run in the top of the sixth against Chase Bebout, the Wilson starting pitcher, to increase their lead to 3-1. Zach Stewart led off with a single. With one out Tim Saunders hit a double that put runners on second and third. Nathan Burns, making his second start for the Steamers, picked up his first RBI with a single that scored Stewart from third.

Bebout walked the lead-off man in the top of the seventh and that spelled the end of his night as he left trailing 3-1. Jon Levin came in and retired the next three Steamers in order to get the Tobs back into the dugout.

Paulino remained in the game for the bottom of the seventh and after striking out Jacob Davis, Ryan Mathews hit a double. Brandon Elliot hit a screaming liner that Brenner caught in center field and after Mathews stole third base Angelo Labruna hit an infield single that scored Mathews and brought the Tobs to within a run, at 3-2.

That's when the rain began to fall enough for the game to be delayed for 43 minutes. Play resumed in the bottom of the seventh with runners on first and second for the Tobs and Alex Jones up to bat against the new Steamer pitcher Dustin Quattrocchi. Jones hit a line drive right at Joey Wendle at second base to end the inning.

Both bullpens pitched a scoreless eighth inning and the Steamers stranded a runner in the top of the ninth.

David Teasley remained in the game in the bottom of the ninth after retiring the final two batters to end the home half of the eighth inning. Teasley retired Ryan Mathews on a pop up to Saunders at short stop for the first out. Head Coach Dirk Kinney dipped back into the bullpen and brought in Jordan Egan to face the lefty pinch-hitter Zac Mitchell. Mitchell flew out to left field for the second out of the inning and after Angelo Labruna was hit by a pitch, Jeff Kremer took an at-bat as a pinch hitter for the Tobs. Kremer put a charge into a ball that landed in the glove of Ryan Brenner in centerfield to end the ball game.

Chase Bebout took his third loss of the season against no wins and Jordan Egan earned his first save of the year with two thirds of an inning pitched, retiring two of the three batters he faced.

The Steamers have now won ten games in a row and improve to 16-4 in 2011. They are back at Historic Hicks Field tomorrow night welcoming the Petersburg Generals into town.



Coastal Plain League Stories from June 22, 2011


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