HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - If Wednesday’s game taught the Coal Cats that consistency is key in hitting, the team proved that it learned its lesson during Thursday’s 5-3 victory over the Greeneville Flyboys.
The Coal Cats wasted no time getting on the board, as back-to-back hits from the leadoff CJ Richard and second baseman Isaac Turner led to an RBI groundout next at-bat. For the first time in nearly a week, the Coal Cats took a first-inning lead.
With no hits and one baserunner through the first two innings, it wasn’t until the third inning that Greeneville found its chance to retaliate. After starter Evan Holewinski hit Flyboys’ shortstop Riley Kirtley and Kirtley subsequently stole second base, center fielder Micah Jordan brought in the tying run with a single to center field.
A silent bottom frame and fourth inning for both sides led to a noisy fifth for the Flyboys in the batter’s box. In it, the visitors drove in two runs the same way it initially took the lead. Greeneville took advantage of its back-to-back walks by performing a double steal to get the runners in scoring position before Jordan gave his team the lead back with another single.
Down 3-1 in the bottom half, Tri-State answered back on a Trent Adelman single that scored designated hitter Cooper McKenzie from second base. His fifth-inning hit capped off a productive two days at the plate, driving in three RBI in his first two Appalachian League games.
“Even that first day of BP I noticed how good his swing was, that’s why you saw him in the three hole today,” manager Tommy Gregg said of Adelman.
“Some of these guys get caught up in these big, open stances, big stride, launch, trying to kill the ball. He just spreads out and doesn’t even really stride, he just uses his hands."
Though both sides got runners on base in the following innings, neither side lit up the scoreboard again until the bottom of the eighth.
As the Flyboys brought in a new pitcher, the Cats pounced immediately, starting with a Chace Chaplin single. Once Ryan Limerick and Matt Ilgenfritz followed suit, reaching on a fielding error and single respectively, it became Jack Smith’s time to shine.
A ground ball by Smith bounced into center field for a double, bringing home Chaplin and Limerick, with Limerick scoring the go-ahead run. It proved fitting that Smith, the freshman from Marshall, took part in sending Thursday’s crowd at Jack Cook Field home happy.
“Being on my home field, playing every day, it feels great,” Smith said.
With a sacrifice fly by McKenzie, the Coal Cats bats not only scored the tying and go-ahead runs, but also added a two-run cushion for its closer. David Stitch earned his second save of the season, only allowing a single in the process.
Having won four of its last five, the Coal Cats play for a series win against the Flyboys at 7 p.m.
For more information about the Tri-State Coal Cats, visit coalcats.com and follow @TriStCoalCats on Twitter and Instagram.
