Southern Collegiate Baseball League

Copperheads and Smokies Split Two More

If you didn't make it out to Hopewell on Saturday night, you missed two good games. With the Copperheads coming off of two convincing wins over the Owls and the Smokies doing the same over the Redbirds, it was a first place matchup that did not let anyone down.

In game one, the Copperheads jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first when Brandon Wilkerson (NC A&T) scored on a Ryan Hodge (Gardner-Webb) double, and then Aaron Fossas (Wake Forest) scored on a Luke Gragg (Western Carolina) sac fly.

Things went quietly for a couple of innings before the Smokies came out to score 2 in the fourth to tie things up with James Fowlkes (Lee) and Brandon Harris (Montreat) both scoring. The Copperheads answered immediately with two of their own. Gragg got things started with a single and later scored on a Justin Manning (UNCW) sac fly. Brantley Smith (Gardner Webb) would be the second runner of the inning to cross the plate for the Copperheads in the fourth on a Robert Loftus (NY Tech) single.

The answer by the Copperheads in the fourth was not enough to slow the bats of the Smokies who came out in the top of the fifth and put up three more runs. Shane Basen (UNC Charlotte) and Cody Blood got the scoring started on a Frank Buska (Albany) single and he would later score on a passed ball.

In the sixth, the Smokies would add to their one-run lead when Harris scored on a Seth Neely (Wofford) single. Neely would then come around to score after stealing 2nd on a Weston Lawing (Lander) single. So down three runs headed into the bottom of the sixth, the Copperheads needed a rally and a rally is exactly what they got. Daniel Whitecavage (St. Andrews) lead off the inning with a long homerun to left center to close the Smokies lead to two. Gragg would then walk, which would be followed by a Geoffrey Murphy (Boston College) double. With runners at 2nd and 3rd, Justin Manning delivered a two-run single to knot things up. Jon Wall (UNCP) would lay down a sac bunt to move pinch runner Tony Montalbano to 2nd. Wade Marcy (GCSU) then got Robert Loftus to ground out to short. So with two outs and a runner on second with the game tied, Brandon Wilkerson stepped up to the plate. He delivered with a deep double off of the right field wall to score Montalbano and give the Copperheads the lead.

That was all the Copperheads would need as Fossas came in from 2nd Base to close out the game in the seventh. Copperheads 8, Smokies 7.

GAME 2

Game two started much like game one when the Copperheads jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Ryan Hodge scored on a Geoffrey Murphy single. That was all the scoring this game would see until the 6th inning due to great pitching performances by Jason Harris (UNC Charlotte) and Lou Trosch (Guilford).

The Smokies were able to tie things up in the sixth when Josh Green scored on a wild pitch by Richie Giner (Mount Olive). The score would stay this way until we went to extra innings. With 2 outs in the top of the 8th, Brian Holberton (UNC) delivered the big blow for the Smokies as he doubled to score Trever Fabing and Wade Marcy. The Copperheads did not lay down. Wilkerson lead off the eighth with a walk and moved to second on a single by Hodge after a groundout by Fossas. Whitecavage then grounded out to short scoring Wilkerson to bring the Copperheads within one. With two outs and a runner now in scoring position, Grant Fisher (Elon) got Montalbano to ground out to the second baseman to end the game.

Tonight the Copperheads will be at home to take on the Pineville Pioneers at 7:00. Gates open at 6:00.

 

Wow....terrific games. I hate I missed them. Can you do it again?

 

Copperheads over Pioneers 13-7

In what seemed like an all-night affair, the Copperheads topped the Pineville Pioneers 13-7. The Copperheads improved to 8-3 on the year while the Pioneers fall to 6-6. Game details to follow.

 

Smokies 8, Owls 2

The Smokies came out swinging the bats again as they down the Statesville Owls 8-2 at home on Monday night. A great pitching performance by Wingate's Olen Little and Wheeling Jesuit's Parker Lang. Little went five, while Lang finished off the last four innings. They combined for 9 innings pitched, 4 hits and 0 earned runs.

At the plate, Tarheel Brian Holberton hit a 3 run homerun to take the lead in the 4th. Solid night by leftfielder Josh Greene (USC Sumter) driving in 4 on the night.

The Smokies travel to Clemson on Wednesday for the first matchup of the year with the Chaos.

Ballantyne is now a league leading 9-3 on the year.

www.ballantynesmokies.com

 

The LKN Copperheads (9-3) continued their winning ways with a 7-4 win over Morganton Wednesday night. They got a strong outing out of starter Stephen Carey (Albany) who got the win. Geoffrey Murphy (Boston College), Luke Gragg (W. Carolina) and Stephen Wallace (Winthrop) each collected three hits for the Copperheads. The Copperheads return to action tonight at 5:00 for a twin-bill with the Asheville Redbirds.

 

Smokies vs. Chaos/Pioneers/Aggies

The Ballantyne Smokies go 3-3 on the week taking one from the Owls, onf from the Chaos, splitting with the Pioneers and dropping two to the Aggies.

Smokies @ Chaos
The Smokies go down 7-1 before coming alive in the 6th. Final score, Smokies 9 Chaos 7. WP - Andrew Mauldin (South Meck/Liberty).

Smokies @ Pioneers
Game 1
A couple of exciting games at Jack Hughes Park in Pineville. The first game the Smokies led 7-5, led by Brantley Rumford's (USCL) 2nd inning grand slam, going in to the last inning but the Pioneers had other ideas on how this game was going to finish. With Grant Fisher (Elon) in to close, an error and a walk off single by Brett Thompson led the Pioneers to victory.
Game 2
The Smokies led the whole game and again, Pineville would scratch their way back in. Again, with a two run lead in the bottom of the 7th, Grant Fisher (Elon) was brought in to close and was able to shut the door.

Aggies @ Smokies
Game 1 & 2
The Smokies were taken out to the woodshed by the Aggies. Both starters for the Aggies were outstanding and kept the Smokies' hitters off balance all night. The Smokies kicked the ball around in the first game behind starter Patrick Kelley (Millersville) and couldn't get anything going offensively. In the second, the Aggies capitalized off of the Smokies starter Blake Parsley (Wingate) as well as the rest of the bullpen.
Game 1: Aggies 6 Smokies 1
Game 2: Aggies 9 Smokies 3

The Smokies are now 11-6 on the year and travel to Statesville on Monday.

www.ballantynesmokies.com

 

Smokies 6, Owls 3

The Smokies get back to their winning ways after going to Statesville and winning 6-3. Brandon Harris (Montreat) stays hot at the plate as the Gastonia (Ashbrook) native hits his league leading 6th homerun of the year and drives in his league leading 19th RBI of the year. Brian Holberton (UNC) had three hits last night to raise his average to a league leading .412. Olen Little (Wingate) picked up his league leading 3rd win of the year and Parker Lang (Wheeling Jesuit) came in and worked middle relief with his league leading 0.00ERA in 15.1 innings of work. Andy Capone (App St.) shut the door with his first save of the season.


Box: http://smokies.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=76163

 

SCBL

Would be nice to see the Observer cover some of the games, especially with two local teams playing and Pineville being the reigning champions. Morganton and Statesville do a good job covering their teams.

 

Pineville sweeps Smokies in Double Header

The Pineville Pioneers swept the Smokies Thursday night winning game one 17-14 on Anthony Dimino's 7th inning grand slam. The pitching struggled on both sides with the Pioneers going up 8-0 in the top of the second. The Smokies answered throughout the game and led 14-11 going into the 7th. Dimino had 2 home euns to lead the Pioneers.

In game 2, Brian DaCanal threw a gem and held the Smokies at bay. The Pioneers' hot hitting led them to a 9-2 victory. Pineville is on a 4 game winning streak and playing tough, scrappy baseball.

The Smokies lead the division by a half game over the Pioneers. Full week next week for the SCBL as most teams play 7 and some play 8.


Box Game 1: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=76168

Box Game 2: http://www.pointstreak.com/baseball/boxscore.html?gameid=76169

 

Smokis, Aggies split Double Header

http://www2.morganton.com/sports/2012/jun/30/aggies-split-testy-twinbill-smokies-ar-2398815/