SCBL Championship Series

The Ballantyne Smokies and the Carolina Chaos will square off tonight at Ardrey Kell High School at 7:00 for Game 1 of the SCBL Championship Series.

The Smokies come in riding a 4 game winning streak after defeating the Asheville Redbirds last night 13-4 to advance. The Smokies were led by catcher Brian Holberton, UNC, (4-5, HR, 3RBI) and center fielder Trevor Fabing, Cabrillo JC, (5-5, 2B, 3B, 4RBI). Fabing was a HR away from the cycle which got robbed by the Redbirds left fielder. Shortstop Shane Basen UNCC, and third baseman Seth Neely, Wofford, also blasted homeruns for the Smokies. The Smokies scored every inning of the ball game.

Olen Little, Wingate, started on the mound for the Smokies and went 6 giving up no earned runs. Little now leads the SCBL in ERA and Wins.

The Chaos come in to the game riding a 3 game winning streak by defeating the Statesville Owls in an 11 inning showdown last night.

Should be an outstanding series.........see you at the park!

 

I'm looking forward to being there

 

Chaos 3, Smokies 2

The Chaos take game one 3-2 in a well played ballgame at Ardrey Kell. Game 2 is tomorrow at Southern Wesleyan. Gametime has changed to 4:00 due to a light malfunction. Should be another good one.

 

Smokies 11, Chaos 10

Smokies take game two 11-10 at Southern Wesleyan today. Great game on both sides. Harris hits a huge two run bomb in the 8th for his 14th of the year. So far the series has been a all out dog fight.

Game 3 at Ardrey Kell High School tomorrow night at 7:00 will decide the 2012 SCBL champ. Should be a good one!

 

Go Smokies! By the way, Olen Little has been outstanding all year and that Brendon Harris kid from Montreat just kills the ball. He hit another game winning HR tonight (think its his 15th on the year which shattered the SCBL record). Brian Holberton has also shown why he was 2nd team All-ACC. All he does is hit, hit, hit. In fact, they hit up and down the order.

 

Ballantyne Smokies - 2012 SCBL Champions

Congratulations to the Ballantyne Smokies on winning the SCBL championship in their first season. The Smokies defeated the Carolina Chaos 12-2 Friday night in front of a packed house at Ardrey Kell. Lou Trosch was outstanding on the mound as he held the Chaos to only two runs in seven innings. Olen Little (2 Ks) and Sean Pope held the Chaos scoreless in the final two innings. The offensive explosion began early with a two-run home run by Brian Holberton in the first inning and an RBI single by Josh Greene and a two-run single by Holberton during the second inning. Holberton racked up five RBIs on three hits for the Ballantyne Smokies. James Fawlkes and HR league leading Brandon Harris also homered for the Smokies. The win was a team effort from the pitching of Trosch to the 15 hits by the Smokies to Shane Basen's web gems at SS. Congratulations to Coach Spencer and the entire Smokies staff and organization.

 

Congratulations to everyone connected to the Ballantyne program. What an accomplishment to be a Champion after your first year. This is 3 years in a row that the SCBL has had a new champion---the last two years with a team's inaugural season.

Another thing that will be cool!!! ...are those championship rings! Make sure you tell JS not to skimp on money buying those rings

I know there are a ton of volunteers behind the scene that make an organization great, but I must mention John Spencer and the work he has done.

Last year he asked me my thoughts of managing the Fort Mill Stingers. I told him it would be a very difficult task. They virtually had no area support and, quite frankly, were on life support for their survival. Of course John didn't listen to me. He had a long standing relationship with Bill Capp's, the owner of the FM Stingers. Well, John didn't have the season that he wanted, but he saw a great opportunity to be a part of something special...so he and his partners bought the team...and moved it to Ballantyne.

Through his connections with local talent and working hard to identify the right players from out of state, he was able to turn around the program from worst to first. But what was equally impressive was how hard they worked to gain community support. They have created an atmosphere that is fun, entertaining, and great baseball to watch. Basically, they have done everything right.

There is tremendous rivalry being developed in the SCBL...and Ballantyne just raised the bar. With Ballantyne, Pineville and Lake Norman winning the chyampionship the last 3 years, I believe it is time for Statesville to step up next year...and gain their rings!!!!!

Wow...the level of playing in the SCBL increases each year. This was one of the missions of the league and they have surpassed everyone's expectations. It won't take very long for the SCBL to become a premier league where the big time programs in the SE will be asking if they can place their players here. The feedback they are getting from the scouts and players is nothing short of positive. Keep up the great work!!!

 

I have watched so many of the Smokies players for years, I just had to go see their final game and they didn't disappoint. The team played so well in all phases; it was easy to tell early who wanted this game. Congrats to the players, parents, and coaches on a special season and the Championship! I hope the players continue their successes into their college seasons, it is a great springboard into things to come.

And a special Good Luck wish to Andy Capone (App State) and Sean Pope (UNCC). These are two exceptional young men with fantastic character and they just happen to be really good pitchers also. I hope you both have the best seasons of your baseball lives in 2013!

 

congratulations to the entire team and staff! We had some great games with them, but I knew right from the beginning that this team had a shot. Some extremely talented players and this squad and John Spencer did a heck of a job of putting together a great run with them.

Again, congrats on a great season. We will be looking forward to taking that cup back next year!