Updated July 11 2014
GASTONIA, N.C. – Weather brought the High Point-Thomasville HiToms and Gastonia Grizzlies together for a doubleheader Thursday, and weather almost kept it from being played. After a 35 minute delay, however, the rain held for the rest of the night and the HiToms fell in game one 8-2, but bounced back taking game two 9-4.
In the first game, Gastonia’s Weston Lawing gave the Grizzlies (22-14, 3-5) a 1-0 lead with a RBI groundout in the bottom of the first inning. HiToms first baseman Bradley Morton (jr., Appalachian State) had a quick answer though, as he tied the game taking the fourth pitch of the frame over the left field wall for a home run – his third of the year.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Grizzlies put the bats to work. With a runner on second and two outs, Zade Denton ripped a RBI single to center field and Tyler Beckwith followed him with a RBI double giving Gastonia a 3-1 lead.
Gastonia continued the onslaught in the bottom of the fifth inning. With the Grizzlies leading 4-1 with the bases loaded and two out, Denton struck again drawing a walk that drove in a run. Right behind him, Beckwith continued his hot hitting by driving a bases-clearing double to right-center field to give the Grizzlies the game’s final 8-2 tally.
In game two, the HiToms (15-20, 3-4) turned the tide scoring right out of the gate. With the bases loaded, Nick Dini (jr., Wagner) plated a run on a RBI groundout. After Spencer Mahoney (jr., Valparaiso) walked to reload the bases, Trip Dunn (rs fr., Catawba Valley) followed him with a RBI walk giving the HiToms a 2-0 lead.
High Point-Thomasville was far from done. Just one inning later after a walk and a fielder’s choice put runners at the corners, the HiToms used a double steal to plate their third run of the game. Two batters later with two runners in scoring position, Dini added another RBI with an infield single and Alec Paradowski (so., Wofford), the runner on second, scored with aggressive baserunning to push the HiTom lead to 5-0. Dunn added his second RBI of the game with a single later in the frame to cap the four-run inning.
The HiToms’ early outburst continued to the top of the third when Bradley Morton (jr., Appalachian State) ripped a RBI double to left and scored on a throwing error a batter later giving the HiToms a 8-0 lead.
It was plenty of support for HiToms starting pitcher Pat Dyer (jr., Akron – 3-2) who pitched all seven innings allowing four runs (three earned) and four walks while striking out six.
The HiToms return home for their final home game before the All-Star Break Friday when the CPL West First Half Champion Florence RedWolves come to town. First pitch is scheduled for 7 P.M.
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:Nkwa Asonye
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