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Texas Winter League Update

February 15, 2013 - North American League (NAmL)
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings News Release


Vince Coleman Jr. and Ginjiro Fujiwara collected four hits to lead a 20-hit attack for the Edinburg Roadrunners to move into first place in the Texas Winter League with a 16-2 victory against the McAllen Thunder.

The Roadrunners (5-4) scored in every inning but the bottom of the sixth, by which time Edinburg held a 16-1 lead and were conservatively running the bases.

The tone was set for the game when Ginjiro Fujiwara, then drove in the 18-year-old from Japan's Komozawa University Iwamizama High, hit a fly ball to left field that was misplayed into a double. After starting pitcher Takati Sato walked Thomas Schull, Mike Mobbs, who himself had three hits in the game, tripled in both baserunners and the rout was on.

Up 8-1 in the bottom of the fourth, the Roadrunners sent 12 batters to the plate against Leo Madrid in a 7-run frame highlighted by Schull's bases loaded triple.

Meanwhile, Aryo Fleming, who one-hit the Thunder (4-4-1) in a 5 1/3 inning stint on Sunday, was again effective by allowing only one run in a four-inning stint. Tyler Hanks (1-0) got the victory by throwing two scoreless innings in relief.

Schull, Kori Melo, Eric Sheridan, and Donald Whitt all collected two hits for the Roadrunners.

GAME TWO

BROWNSVILLE 1 RIO GRANDE VALLEY 1

Cole Stephens threw a no-hitter for 5 2/3 innings against his former manager's team but was victimized by his own defense as the Brownsville Stars tied the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings 1-1.

Stephens, who pitched for the United League WhiteWings last year, retired consecutive batters from the second to sixth inning before Justin Juneau booted a ground ball hit by Kori Melo with two out and the Stars (4-4-1) up 1-0.

Jacob Douglas then doubled to centerfield to score Melo, but this was in large part because Austin Fraker tried to make a diving catch of the sinking hit.

But the effort was in vain and as a result the ball bounced past Fraker, allowing Melo to score and Douglas to pull into second.

Brownsville took a 1-0 lead off Harlingen South grad Danny Gidora when Fraker dragged a bunt for a hit with two out in the second inning, stole second base, and then scored on catcher Nick Lancisi's single to left.

It was Lancisi's first Texas Winter League game. Lancisi, a product of Husson University, finished with three hits in as many at bats.

"The catcher was good. We were on the same page and mixing it up. He's a solid catcher" said Stephens, who fanned three and walked no one in six innings.

"I'm in midseason form. I didn't feel my arm was tight or dragging or anything," the right-hander said.

This outing comes off a performance where Stephens threw five shutout innings against the WhiteWings (3-4-2) on Sunday.

Gidora, meanwhile, threw four innings and allowed five hits, struck out two, and did not walk a batter.

On Saturday it will be Veterans-VA Staff Appreciation Day at Harlingen Field, with all veterans, active military, and Veterans Affairs staff and families receiving $3 tickets and the chance to win hundreds of dollars of prizes donated by the WhiteWings, Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Chili's and Target.

The action begins with the Stars playing Roadrunners at 11 a.m. and the WhiteWings taking on the Thunder at 2 p.m.

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North American League Stories from February 15, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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