Woodpeckers Open 2025 Season with 7-0 Shutout Victory
CarL Fayetteville Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers Open 2025 Season with 7-0 Shutout Victory

Published on April 4, 2025 under Carolina League (CarL)
Fayetteville Woodpeckers News Release


FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. - The Fayetteville Woodpeckers (1-0) kicked off the 2025 season with a 7-0 shutout victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats (0-1) on Opening Night Friday at Segra Stadium. Friday's ballgame marked the start of the sixth season in franchise history and first with the Woodpeckers as a member of the Carolina League north division.

The Woodpeckers led from start to finish after Jancel Villarroel scored in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch. Max Holy added on in the second inning with an RBI triple lined into the right-center field gap for a 2-0 advantage against Lynchburg starter Braylon Doughty (L, 0-1).

Joan Ogando was named the Opening Night starter and pieced together 3.1 scoreless innings of one-hit ball. The 20-year-old right-hander from the Dominican Republic worked around a bases-loaded jam in the second inning and struck out five before turning the ball over to Twine Palmer (W, 1-0).

Palmer, a 19th round pick out of Connors State, fanned six over 3.0 scoreless innings of relief and surrendered just one hit in his season debut.

The game was locked down with a four-run bottom of the eighth aided by a struggling Lynchburg bullpen. Luis Flores allowed four runs on an Esmil Valencia RBI single, two wild pitches that plated Valencia and Lucas Spence, plus a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch of Waner Luciano that made it a 7-0 game.

Ryan Smith (SV, 1) closed out the game with two scoreless innings of relief. The ninth round pick out of Illinois-Chicago stranded the bases loaded after walking three in the eighth, then capped the Opening Night victory with a scoreless ninth.

Opening Weekend continues Saturday with the second game of a three-game series against Lynchburg. Fayetteville is projected to start RHP Cole Hertzler and Lynchburg will roll out RHP Cam Walty. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and the first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Chenille Cap Giveaway courtesy of Blue Diamond Transportation.

Check out the Fayetteville Woodpeckers Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Carolina League Stories from April 4, 2025


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.

OurSports Central