CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The 2022 Appalachian League season begins tonight with a full slate of games. All five games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. The defending champion Greeneville Flyboys will begin the season on the road against the Kingsport Axmen. The 2021 runner-up Pulaski River Turtles will host the Burlington Sock Puppets. The remaining Opening Day matchups are Bristol State Liners at the Princeton WhistlePigs, Elizabethton River Riders visiting the Johnson City Doughboys and Bluefield Ridge Runners taking on the Otterbots in Danville.
Greeneville Flyboys @ Kingsport Axmen (7 p.m.)
Starting Pitching Matchup- Riley Taylor (Oklahoma State) vs. Ryan Murphy (James Madison)
Riley Taylor gets the Opening Day start for the Flyboys. The right-hander is a redshirt sophomore at Oklahoma State from Haslet, Texas. Ryan Murphy will start for the Axmen. The right-hander is a sophomore at James Madison University from Vienna, Va. Murphy appeared in 14 games (11 starts) for the Dukes this spring, he pitched to a 3.86 ERA in 65.1 innings pitched.
Watch/Listen Live: https://appalachianleague.univtec.com/event/627e9322d05e420cf3b212c0
Bristol State Liners @ Princeton WhistlePigs (7 p.m.)
Starting Pitching Matchup- Fidel Ulloa (San Joaquin Delta) vs. Christopher Canada (San Diego State)
Fidel Ulloa will take the mound to start for the State Liners. The right-hander is a freshman from Lodi, Calif., at San Joaquin Delta College (CA). Ulloa made 15 appearances (11 starts) at Delta this spring, he went 4-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 46 innings pitched. Christopher Canada will start for the WhistlePigs. The left-hander from Orange, Calif., is a freshman at San Diego State. Canada pitched in 15 games (7 starts) for the Aztecs this spring, he had 39 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched.
Watch/Listen Live: https://appalachianleague.univtec.com/event/62866660d05e420cf3b21322
Elizabethton River Riders @ Johnson City Doughboys (7 p.m.)
Starting Pitching Matchup- Alex Brewer (Lincoln Memorial University) vs. Anthony Neubeck (Missouri)
Alex Brewer will start for the River Riders. The right-hander from Corryton, Tenn., is a sophomore at Lincoln Memorial University (TN). Brewer made 12 starts at LMU this spring, he had a 3.56 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched. Brewer made 10 starts in Elizabethton in 2021. Anthony Neubeck will start for the Doughboys. The left-hander from Hugo, Minn., is a freshman at Missouri. Neubeck appeared in 15 games (9 starts) at Missouri this spring, he struck out 60 in 54.1 innings pitched.
Watch/Listen Live: https://appalachianleague.univtec.com/event/628d1e88d05e420cf3b213da
Bluefield Ridge Runners @ Danville Otterbots (7 p.m.)
Starting Pitching Matchup- Ryan Voss (Bluefield University) vs. Tyler Judge (New York University)
Ryan Voss will start for the Ridge Runners. The right-hander from Barker, N.Y., is a sophomore at Bluefield University (VA). Voss went 5-2 over 15 appearances (13 starts) this spring, he struck out 45 over 58 innings pitched. Voss appeared in 11 games with Bluefield in 2021. Tyler Judge will start for the Otterbots. The right-hander from Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., is a junior at New York University. Judge pitched in 11 games (eight starts) at NYU this spring, he struck out 50 hitters in 50.2 innings pitched. Judge pitched to a 1.69 ERA in 10 appearances (5 starts) for the Otterbots in 2021.
Watch/Listen Live: https://appalachianleague.univtec.com/event/629633e8d05e420cf3b21523
Burlington Sock Puppets @ Pulaski River Turtles (7 p.m.)
Starting Pitching Matchup- Sam DiLella (Elon) vs. Lucas Reed (Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College)
Sam DiLella will take the mound for the Sock Puppets. The right-hander from Wayne, Penn., is a freshman at Elon. DiLella had a 3.09 ERA in 23.1 innings pitched over 18 appearances (1 start) for the Phoenix this spring. Lucas Reed will start for the River Turtles. The right-hander from Louisville, Ky., is a sophomore at Mississippi Gulf Coast CC. In 16 appearances (10 starts), Reed went 7-6 with a save in 77 innings pitched, he had a 3.74 ERA and struck out 88. Reed had a 3.70 ERA over 13 appearances (3 starts) for the River Turtles in 2021.
Watch/Listen Live: https://appalachianleague.univtec.com/event/626c1356d05e420cf3b21186
The Appalachian League will implement a “sudden death” extra-innings format similar to the Frontier League and MLB Draft League. During the plate meeting prior to each game, the home team manager will determine if they want to play offense or defense in the event of a tie game after regulation (7 or 9 innings). For the team on offense, the player on the lineup card immediately preceding the batter due up will be placed on first base. The defensive team will have three outs to prevent the offense from scoring. If the team on offense scores, they will win the game. If the defensive team retires the side without allowing a run, they will win the game.
