Copperheads Rally, End Slide

Updated June 12 2017
MARTINSVILLE, VA

Kyle Smith (Catawba) came off the bench to deliver a two-run double and later scored from third on Derek Perry’s (Pfeiffer) sacrifice fly as the Asheboro Copperheads snapped an eight-game losing streak Monday night, beating Martinsville 6-5 on the road.

It appeared the losing streak might continue after the Mustangs broke a 3-3 tie with two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but the Copperheads showed some character by bouncing back in the ninth.

Clark Brinkman (Creighton), playing in his first game, was hit by a pitch to start the ninth and then Rusell Schwerteger (SC-Upstate) lined a single to right to put the tying runs on board. Smith, who had started all of Asheboro’s previous nine games, was called on to pinch hit and ripped a double down the line in right to tie the game. Smith later moved over to third on a ground out and then tagged and scored on a close play at the plate on Perry’s fly ball.

Lefty Hunter Smith (Memphis) came on to pitch the bottom of the ninth. He struck out the first batter, then hit the second, but got the final two outs on a first base-to-second base double play grounder to end the game. While Smith got the save, the win went to Mason Fox (Gardner-Webb), who came on in the last of the eighth after two had scored and kept the inning from completely blowing up on the Copperheads.

The win improved Asheboro to 2-8, while Martinsville saw its four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 6-4. The Copperheads had not won since beating the Mustangs in Asheboro on opening night.

Both teams had seven hits, with second baseman Devon Ortiz (SC-Upstate) and Schwertfeger collecting two apiece for the Snakes. Schwertfeger had an RBI triple in the second that gave Asheboro a 2-1 lead. The score was tied at 1-1, 2-2 and 3-3, but Martinsville never led until the eighth when they didn’t hit the ball out of the infield,  but scored twice on three walks and two bunt singles. Both runs scored on bases-loaded walks.

Devin Sweet (NC Central)started on the mound for the Copperheads and worked six complete innings, leaving with the scored tied 3-3. Jacob Craver (Charlotte) pitched a scoreless eighth, but then had control problems in the eighth when the Mustangs took the lead for the first time..

David Sims hit his league-best sixth home run of the season off Sweet in the third.

The Copperheads and Mustangs will meet again in Asheboro on Tuesday night. Game time is 7:05 at McCrary Park.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 22nd season in 2018, the CPL features 16 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had over 1,450 alumni drafted and 111 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum – Russell Wilson – won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball..

Contact:

David Camp

Phone:

(336) 460-7018