FUNGO takes win in debut of renovated stadium

On a rainy July 7, the Wake Forest FUNGO held their first game of the season in what they have been calling “New Flaherty” as they hosted the Oak City Gliders.

The park has gone through significant renovations, including a gateway sign, a brick backstop, a shaded dugout, an improved staircase with an accessible ramp, ornamental fencing, a bullpen and a shaded seating area, which the built-in seating is set to arrive in August.

“We are very fortunate. This ballpark is absolutely gorgeous. We got a great surface to play on. It’s going to be great when we start getting fans out on days when it’s not going to be raining,” said Trever Schock following the game. “Very excited to have it going forward.”

FUNGO took down the Gliders 8-5, earning a victory in their debut match at the updated park.

“The boys came out and played hard,” said Schock. “They did a lot of little things, played good defense, pitchers came out and threw strikes to give us a chance. We had some really big performances tonight. Good team effort tonight.”

FUNGO takes strong start

Between the first two innings, FUNGO held the Gliders to only one hit and a walk.

In the bottom of the second, FUNGO began to pick up ground at the plate.

Neo Drew began the frame with a single due to three Gliders failing to locate his pop fly to third. Tyler White was walked on the next at-bat.

Grant Ross stepped up to bat with a man on first and second. He hit a hard line drive single to the wall along the right field line to send home drew on the RBI double, getting FUNGO on the board.

Aaron Bock was walked to load the bases. Lucas Granata saw the third walk of the inning, sending home White.

Nick DiCarlo hit a sacrifice grounder to second to score Ross, putting Wake Forest up 3-0. This was followed up with another two outs, leaving two runners on base.

Scoring lull

From the third to the fifth, only two runs were scored between the two teams, with each scoring one.

The Gliders had an RBI single in the top of the third.

In the bottom of the fourth, JonAlan Richardson singled to shallow right for an RBI, sending DiCarlo home for the 4-1 lead.

Gliders fight back

In the top of the sixth inning, after striking out in the first at-bat of the frame, the Gliders had two walks. This set them up for a three-run homer to tie the game at 4-4.

FUNGO pull away

The tie did not last for long. In the next frame, Drew hit a shot over the shortstop for an RBI double to retake the lead. Drew added a run of his own, stealing home after a Glider error attempting to pick him off stealing third.

In the next inning, FUNGO extended their lead to three with DiCarlo singling as Bock legged his way home from second.

The Gliders scored in the top of the eight after two doubles off the wall, but Wake Forest answered back in the following frame with a sacrifice fly by Ross for the RBI.

FUNGO held onto the lead to take the win with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Key performer

Eli Snelson came in to pitch in the middle of the sixth following the Glider home run and closed the inning with a strikeout and a putout at first.

He continued to deliver, allowing only one run and leading the team to their first win at the new park. This earned him FUNGO Player of the Game.

“It was a blast, we had a lot of fun,” said Snelson. It was a good game too, both teams competed. The mound was great, the field was great, glad we got to play it.”

Snelson hit 90 mph on one of his pitches, a goal of his this season.

“Felt great,” said Snelson. “I’ve been working all summer to hit it; that was my one goal this summer, to hit 90 and I’m ecstatic to hit it.”

Up next

FUNGO will remain home and host the Clayton Clovers at Flaherty Park on Wednesday, July 10.

The Clovers are No. 1 in the division and lead the season series versus the FUNGO 3-1.

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