Following a week on the road, the Gastonia Baseball Team returns — albeit briefly — to CaroMont Health Park for a three-game set with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
The series began Tuesday. It comes on the heels of a six-game road trip for Gastonia, one which saw the club take two of three from the Charleston (West Virginia) Dirty Birds, before suffering the same fate themselves against the Lexington Legends.
Here’s a brief look at the week that was for the Gastonia Baseball Club.
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Tuesday, July 9
Gastonia 8, Charleston 7: Justin Wylie was 3-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBIs and a stolen base, the latter leading to the game-winning run in the seventh as the GBC upped their winning streak to 11 games. Clint Coulter (double, RBI), Josh Stowers (double, RBI) and Eric De La Rosa (double) contributed two hits apiece.
Wednesday, July 10
Gastonia 16, Charleston 9: Gastonia’s winning streak reached 12 games, aided in large part by a six-run eighth inning and four Charleston errors. De La Rosa (home run, three RBIs), Stowers (two stolen bases) as well as Marc Flores (home run, three RBIs), Jake Gatewood (RBI) and Richie Martin (home run, three RBIs) had two hits apiece in a winning effort. Alan Alonso also hit a solo home run for the GBC.
Thursday, July 11
Charleston 8, Gastonia 4: A fast start fizzled for Gastonia in the series finale, Charleston scoring seven unanswered runs to end the GBC’s 12-game winning streak. Gastonia was limited to five hits, Wylie responsible for two of them, including a double and an RBI. Gatewood hit a solo homer, in addition to another RBI in a losing cause.
Friday, July 12
Lexington 4, Gastonia 2: Gastonia outhit Lexington, but had trouble scratching runs across in a loss at Lexington. Coulter was one of the few bright spots for the GBC, going 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base.
Saturday, July 13
Lexington 7, Gastonia 1: Gastonia was unable to get anything going Saturday in Lexington, the Legends scoring seven early runs and relying on its bullpen in dropping the GBC to a third straight loss. Gastonia’s only run was courtesy of a Hidekel Gonzalez solo homer in the third inning. The GBC had four total hits in the game.
Sunday, July 14
Gastonia 9, Lexington 5: Gastonia ended a three-game losing skid by taking the series finale in Lexington. After a two-day slumber in Lexington, GBC bats awakened to the tune of 11 hits, with three players — Martin, Gatewood (home run, three RBIs) and Coulter (home run, three RBIs)— each finishing with multiple hits. De La Rosa also had a two-run blast.
Where is the GBC in league standings?
Through eight games in the season’s second half, Gastonia (5-3) is two games behind the rival High Point Rockers in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball’s South Division standings. Charleston and Southern Maryland begin the week 4-4, while Lexington is 2-6. The GBC is a league-best 51-20 overall.
Team news
- Outfielder Josh Stowers and reliever Phoenix Sanders each were named to the ALPB’s midseason all-star team. Stowers hit .313 in the first half, with 73 hits, 51 runs and 27 stolen bases. Sanders tied for the league lead with 11 saves, while posting a 3-0 record, a 1.80 ERA and 33 strikeouts in the first half.
- Four GBC players are on the move, their contracts purchased by teams in the Mexican League. Pitchers Zac Lowther and Nick Wells each are headed to Toros de Tijuana, with fellow lefty Ian McKinney off to Monclova. Catcher Patrick Mazieka was picked up by Mexico City.
Upcoming schedule
- July 16-18: vs. Southern Maryland Blue Crabs; first pitch each night at 7 p.m.
- July 19-21: at Charleston Dirty Birds; start time for first time games at 6:35 p.m., with the finale getting underway at 4:05 p.m.
- July 23-25: at High Point Rockers; first pitch each night at 6:35 p.m.
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