Updated August 07 2017
Forest City traveled to Asheboro on Monday night for the final game of the regular season.
The Copperheads (20-35, 9-18) finished their disappointing season with another loss, falling to the Owls 10-4.
The win, combined with a Savannah loss, clinched the second half west division title for the Owls for the second year in a row.
Forest City opened up the scoring with two runs in the 1st thanks to a two-RBI single by Seth Hoagland (Iona).
In the 2nd, the Copperheads tied the game, scoring two runs with two outs making it 2-2. Both runs came in to score on a two-RBI double by Kyle Smith (Catawba).
On the mound for Forest City was right-hander Tyler McAlister (Missouri State). He tossed six innings on the hill, surrendering three runs on seven hits while striking out eight Copperhead batters.
The best sequence of the night for McAlister spanned from the 3rd to the 5th when he fanned six straight hitters, a season record for consecutive strikeouts for the Owls.
Forest City took the lead for good in the 3rd, as Connor Grant (North Greenville) launched a solo homerun (2) to put the Owls back on top. Grant went 2-2 on the night with three RBI’s, three walks and four runs scored.
In the 5th, Hoagland drove in another run to double the lead for Forest City at 4-2. Hoagland went 3-3 on the night with three RBI’s.
In the 6th, Forest City extended the lead when Grant and Mason Dodd (Lander) hit back-to-back RBI doubles to put the Owls up 6-2.
In the 7th, Brandon Dusenberry (East Central) took over for McAlister on the mound. He closed out the final three frames, allowing one run on one hit while striking out three Asheboro batters.
Asheboro trailed 6-3 heading to the 8th before making it a two run game on an RBI single for Forest Kimbrell (NC A&T).
In the 9th, the Owls scored four runs thanks to six free passes as the offense batted around. The inning blew the game open and propelled Forest City to coast across the finish line with a 10-4 win.
The win and Savannah loss against Martinsville crowns Forest City the second half west division champions. It’s the first time that the Owls have won both halves of a season since 2009, when they went on to later win the CPL title.
Forest City returns to action tomorrow, as they take on the Gastonia Grizzlies in the first round of the playoffs. It’s win or go home for the Owls as they take on the Grizzlies for the sixteenth time this year. Forest City holds a 10-5 season series lead over Gastonia, but are only 5-4 against them at McNair Field.
First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and if you can’t make it to the game, listen to all the action live on the Forest City Owls Radio Network.
To find out more about 2017 Owls playoff tickets or 2018 Owls Season Tickets, please contact the Owls Office at 828-245-0000 or visit the website at www.forestcitybaseball.com.
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:
Zachary Penrice
Phone:828-245-0000