Joe L Hughes IIGaston Gazette
The Gastonia Baseball Club made the most of its opportunity this past week to seize control of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball’s South Division.
A sweep of rival High Point followed by a series win at Charleston (West Virginia) has Gastonia four games up as a new week of play begins June 25. The GBC’s 37-16 record is best in the ALPB.
The York Revolution currently have the circuit’s longest winning streak, winners of six straight. Its 35-18 record is two games behind Gastonia for the ALPB’s best record, with it nine games ahead of reigning league champion Lancaster, losers of five games in a row.
Here’s a brief review of the Gastonia Baseball Club’s past week of action.
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Tuesday, June 18
Gastonia 7, High Point 6: Dean Miller’s base hit with one out in the 10th allowed Gastonia to walk off with a win in the opener of a key three-game set. After getting out to a 5-1 lead through four innings, High Point answered with five of the next six runs to bring it even through seven.
Josh Stowers led Gastonia by going 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Justin Wylie had two hits, including a solo home run. Kevin Watson Jr. was also 2-for-3, with two doubles. Jack Reinheimer and Marc Flores also went deep in the win.
Wednesday, June 19
Gastonia 3, High Point 2: For the second night in a row, late magic worked in Gastonia’s favor.
Stowers’ RBI base hit in the 10th scored Eric De La Rosa, giving the GBC another hard-earned win over High Point. The Gastonia center fielder also hit a solo home run in the fourth.
Its other run came in the sixth courtesy of a Patrick Mazieka base hit, bringing Jake Gatewood around to tie the game, 3-3.
Nick Wells pitched 5 ⅔ innings, allowing two runs on three hits with eight strikeouts. Relievers Trent Fennell, Bryan Blanton, Phoenix Sanders and Cory Thompson stymied the High Point offense from there, only allowing three Rocker hitters on the final 4 ⅓ innings, each on walks.
Thursday, June 20
Gastonia 5, High Point 4: Three nights, three walk-off victories for Gastonia. A Watson Jr. base hit in the 10th brought Stowers around for the game-winning run and a series sweep of High Point.
Flores led for Gastonia, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBIs. Stowers (double in ninth, two runs) and Watson (game-winning RBI) contributed two hits apiece.
The GBC bullpen was again phenomenal, following a strong start by Mike Wright Jr. by allowing one run on three hits and two walks in three innings.
Friday, June 21
Gastonia 8, Charleston (West Virginia) 2: Tied 1-1 in the third, Gastonia scored four runs to take control in its opener against Charleston.
Ljay Newsome pitched six innings, allowing one run on two hits with five strikeouts. Patrick Mazieka hit two solo home runs, while Stowers was 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and three runs scored. Jake Gatewood also had a hit and two RBIs.
Saturday, June 22
Gastonia 13, Charleston 1: The GBC cranked out 20 hits, five hitters — Stowers (double), Watson Jr. (double), Mazeika, De La Rosa (double, two home runs) and Joe Gray Jr. (two doubles) — with three apiece en route to a dominant win over Charleston. Wylie, Hidekel Gonzalez and Jack Reinheimer also went deep for Gastonia.
Zac Lowther exited after six innings with a no-hitter and five strikeouts. Brett Daniels pitched the last three innings, his only blemish being an eighth inning home run by Charleston’s Clint Frazier.
Sunday, June 23
Charleston 5, Gastonia 4: Gastonia’s six-game win streak was snapped in the series finale at Charleston.
The Dirty Birds scored five runs over the fourth and fifth innings, enough to avoid a sweep by the ALPB’s top club.
Wylie and De La Rosa hit home runs, with Watson Jr. earning two hits and scoring a run.
The week ahead
- June 25-27: vs. High Point Rockers; first pitch at 7 p.m. each night.
- June 28-30: at Lexington Legends; first pitch is at 7 p.m. the first two nights, with the series finale starting at 2 p.m.
- July 2-4: at High Point Rockers; first pitch at 6:35 p.m. each night.
Upcoming promotions
- Margaritaville Night: Patrons can enjoy a taste of island life Thursday at CaroMont Health Park, “wasting away” in a night paying tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett.
