HUNTINGTON, W.Va. -- On Wednesday evening, Tri-State returned to Jack Cook Field after five of its players took part in Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Tri-State fell to the Danville Otterbots, 6-1, giving up nine walks yet out-hitting one of the league’s best offenses.
Days removed from being crowned Appy League Home Run Derby champion, Danville first baseman Michael Callan Moss kept playing as if no one told him the contest was over. In the first inning, Moss put his team ahead with a towering solo shot that landed on top of the clubhouse beyond left field. After a 1-2-3 second, Moss returned with a two-run blast to straightaway center field that made it a 3-0 Danville lead.
Moss’ two homers were the only two hits given up by Tri-State starter Evan Holewinski. The Kent State product pitched another 1-2-3 inning in the fourth before giving up two walks and two runs in the fifth. The righty struck out seven batters while walking four during his five innings on the bump.
In the batter’s box, the Coal Cats recorded four hits through five innings and put runners on base during four of those frames. However, each scoring threat was stifled. Despite doubling the Otterbots’ hit total, the Coal Cats trailed 5-0 through five innings.
Following Holewinski’s start, Jack Brooker pitched an impressive four innings of relief. Though Danville scored another run after two walks and a sacrifice fly in the eighth, Brooker did not allow a hit during his appearance. Through four hitless innings, Brooker tallied five strikeouts, though he equaled that with five walks.
“I think the main thing for him is when he’s getting ahead in the count early; he’s got good stuff,” manager Tommy Gregg said. “He’s got to keep the ball in the zone more, but when he gets ahead, he has good stuff. They start chasing a little bit more, they get anxious."
A single and steal by CJ Richard led off the ninth for the Tri-State offense. Richard scored on a fielding error that put Ryan Limerick on base, but it ended as Tri-State’s only run in the loss.
Noticeably missing from the Coal Cats’ lineup were its five All-Stars. After a combined 2 2/3 innings Tuesday, pitchers Joe Gomez, Josh McDevitt and David Stich were given the day off after their stellar appearances in the All-Star Game. The same went for two members of the Cats’ batting order: catcher Logan Poteet and outfielder Michael Rodriguez.
“I thought they did great. I’m glad they got a lot of playing time,” Gregg said regarding the players’ performances on Tuesday evening. “All of our guys said they had a great time, that’s kind of the whole thing about it, but they ended up playing really well. It was a great experience for them.”
Coal Cats fans do not need to worry about the length of these absences, as they were only meant as an extra day’s rest.
“They traveled today, they played last night, it’s just fair to them to give them a day off,” Gregg said. “It could’ve been a different ballgame. When you have Michael Rodriguez, the way he’s swinging the bat, and Poteet, those are two big bats out of your lineup. We’ll see about tomorrow.”
Tri-State returns to Jack Cook Field on Thursday with a chance at redemption, as it begins Game 2 of the four-game series at 7 p.m. After out-hitting the league-best Otterbots nearly one week removed from its two-game sweep of the team, the Coal Cats have reason to keep its spirits high as their All-Stars return for Thursday’s battle.
