In 1994, gas was only $1.11, Bill Clinton was in his first term as president of the United States, and a pre-Moneyball Terrence Long faced a pre-Japan Series champion Julio Zuleta in battles between the Kingsport Mets and Huntington Cubs.
It was also the last time an Appalachian League team in Huntington, West Virginia earned a victory.
Fast forward to 2024 and travel about 200 miles south for a series opener where Tri-State starter Bryce Dolby and Kingsport’s Drew Hoover set the tone for a game that was mostly defined by pitching performances. In their respective three-inning starts, Hoover allowed just one hit and recorded five strikouts, while Dolby struck out four allowing just one run on three hits.
Dolby’s only earned run proved to be the first of the game, as a leadoff triple by Axmen right fielder Jet Gilliam set up designated hitter Devan Zirwas for an RBI groundout. Despite giving up the early lead, Dolby bounced back by striking out the next two batters to end his three-inning stint on a high note.
In the following innings, southpaw Drew Callaway picked up where Dolby left off. Going three innings of relief, Callaway allowed only two hits as a double play immediately followed a fifth inning single and Isaac Cadena caught Nico Newhan stealing at second base following his hit in the sixth inning to end Kingsport’s scoring threats.
In the top half of the sixth, the Coal Cats finally broke through against reliever Logan Bryson as right fielder Matt Ilgenfritz gave his team its first lead of the season with a two-run double that sailed over the head of Axmen left fielder Bryson Trammell.
After getting into a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh, Joe Gomez and his surrounding defense shut the door on Kingsport, battling back by forcing a groundout and an inning-ending double play. From there, Ben Rabatin earned a two-inning save while allowing just one hit and one walk. As a pitching staff, Tri-State improved on its performance in the opening series by allowing a combined three walks and season-low seven hits while striking out eleven batters.
The Coal Cats return to Hunter Wright Stadium at 7 P.M., with the goal to keep its momentum up and improve to a .500 record on the young season.
For more information about the Tri-State Coal Cats, visit coalcats.com and follow @TriStCoalCats on Twitter and Instagram
