GASTONIA - The Columbia Blowfish might be the only team in the Coastal Plain League that is not looking forward to the All-Star Break.
After going 1-10 to start the second half of the season, the Blowfish have now won four of their last five games. The team also finally provided enough offense to back Tyler Christman (USC Sumter), taking advantage of five Gastonia errors to defeat the Grizzlies 7-0 Saturday night at Sims Legion Park.
Christman (1-4) did not allow a run in six innings, while striking out seven and giving up three hits in the win. Robert Jeroszko (College of Charleston 2-3) suffered the loss after giving up four runs on eight hits in seven innings.
The Blowfish manufactured two runs across in the first inning before they even recorded a hit. Matt Williams (Liberty) led off with a four pitch walk and stole second two pitches later. Jeroszko then plunked Tyler McBride (Winthrop) on the helmet with a pitch, putting the first two batters on base. Jeroszko then threw an inside pitch that missed the glove of catcher Ty Nelson (Tennessee-Martin). Nelson could not find the ball in the deep foul territory behind home plate, allowing Williams to score from second and McBride to advance to third. With two outs, McBride broke for home as Jeroszko went into the windup. Jeroszko then panicked and rushed the throw home, resulting in a balk that gave McBride the run. Trent Still then followed with a solo home to left, his first of the season, to give the Blowfish a 3-0 lead.
Columbia added an insurance run in the fifth inning. Branfry Arias (Tusculum) doubled to start things off, then stole third on a pitch that struck out Matt Leeds (College of Charleston). Still picked up his second RBI on the night with a single to left, scoring Arias to make it 4-0 Blowfish.
Gabe Grammar (Presbyterian), Jeremiah Meiners (Francis Marion), and Drew Mahaffey (Citadel) gave up only one hit between them over the final three innings to preserve the shutout
The Grizzlies fell apart in the ninth inning. With runners on second and first and one out, Arias lined a base hit into right field. Richard Mounce (Clemson) scored as Gastonia catcher Ty Nelson fired to second. The throw sailed wide into center field, allowing McBride to score. Center fielder Gregory Van Horn (Princeton) misplayed the bad throw, allowing Arias to get an inside-the-park home run, although only officially credited as an RBI single. The three-run inning gave the Blowfish a 7-0 margin.
Notes: Columbia did not have an error for the second consecutive game. They have had one or fewer in their last four games...It was the first time Gastonia had been shut out in 2009...Trent Still was Gastonia's "K Man", meaning that, if he struck out, the home crowd would receive a free taco. Not only did Trent not strike out, but he went 2-for-2 with two walks, 2 RBIs, and a home run... The Blowfish will not play again until Wednesday due to the All-Star Break. Matt Leeds will play in Tuesday's game at Buck Hardee Field in Wilmington. Gametime is scheduled for 7:05 pm.
