HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers overcame a 5-3 deficit with a four-run seventh inning and went on to defeat Southern Maryland 7-5 on Saturday night at Truist Point. The Rockers rapped three doubles and a homer during the decisive seventh inning.

The win gives the Rockers sole possession of first place in the Atlantic League’s South Division in the second half at 9-4, a game ahead of Gastonia (8-5) which dropped a 7-6 decision at Charleston on Saturday. High Point improved to 45-31 overall.

High Point scored first when Gilberto Jimenez hit an RBI double in the second inning to score D.J. Burt who had singled with two outs. The Blue Crabs jumped ahead 2-1 in the third on an two-run double from Michael Wielansky. A solo homer in the top of the sixth by Southern Maryland’s Anthony Brocato put the Crabs up 3-1.

With rain drizzling throughout the game, the Rockers knotted the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth. Trey Martin and Clayton Mehlbauer drew a walk from Southern Maryland starter Ian Kahaloa. The Crabs then brought in Cody Thompson (L, 2-2) from the bullpen and Burt greeted him with a single, scoring Martin. Jimenez then singled to bring in Mehlbauer.

High Point starter Cam Bedrosian departed after allowing a solo homer to Miles Williams that put SMD ahead 4-3. Jacob Edwards (W, 6-1) allowed an unearned run in the seventh as SMD took a 5-3 lead.

High Point’s four-run seventh inning came at Thompson’s expense. With one out, Connor Owings doubled and Quincy Latimore popped a two-run homer to tie the game 5-5. With two outs, Brian Parreira doubled into the rightfield corner and Mehlbauer reached on an infield single. Burt’s double into the left-center gap scored both runners and left the Rockers with a 7-5 lead.

Kyle Halbohn retired the Crabs in order in the eighth behind a 5-4-3 double play and Dakota Chalmers induced three infield ground outs in the ninth to earn his third save of the year.

Burt finished the night with three hits and three RBI with Latimore and Jimenez each driving in a pair of runs. Wielansky had two hits and three RBI on the night for Southern Maryland.

Game three of the series is slated for a 4:05 p.m. start on Sunday afternoon at Truist Point

NOTES: The game was delayed 1:20 prior to the first pitch due to rain.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Three Southern Maryland pitchers combined to throw a five-hit shutout as the Blue Crabs downed the High Point Rockers 2-0 on Friday night in front of a crowd of 2,135 at Truist Point.

Spencer Johnston (W, 5-1) went seven innings and struck out nine for SMD while walking just one. Johnston retired the final seven hitters he faced before exiting before the top of the eighth. Jason Creasy and Endrys Briceno (S, 10) hurled the final two innings and did not allow a base runner. High Point didn’t land a base runner after Connor Owings drew a two-out walk in the fifth.

The Rockers loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth but Johnston struck out Quincy Latimore to escape the jam.

Matt Solter (L, 0-1), activated earlier in the day, pitched very respectably, allowing just four hits over his six innings while walking three and fanning four.

The Blue Crabs tallied a single run in the third when Aaron Hill singled, stole second, and scored on a single by Caleb Marquez. In the sixth, Juan Kelly worked a two-out walk from Solter, stole second, and scored on a single by Miles Williams.

Ben Aklinski had three of High Point’s five hits. He was stranded in the first after a single, was left on base after a two-out double in the third and singled in the fifth.

Game two of the series is scheduled for a 6:35 start on Saturday at Truist Point. It will be Ben Aklinski Bobblehead Night with the first 1,000 fans receiving a free Bobblehead of Aklinski.

YORK, Pa. – The High Point Rockers scored seven runs in the first inning of their nightcap at York and forged a doubleheader split on Thursday. After the Rockers dropped the completion of Wednesday’s suspended 2-1 in 11 innings, High Point bounced back to take the second game, 7-3.

York claimed the opener 2-1 in 11 innings when Colton Welker hit a soft ground ball up the first base line that brought home Matt McDermott with the winning run. In the night cap, High Point jumped to a 7-0 lead and lefty Jonah Scolaro turned in a complete game effort in downing the Revs 7-3 in seven innings.

York starter Will Stewart lasted just two-thirds of an inning in the nightcap as the Rockers tallied seven times, sending 11 hitters to the plate. Gilberto Jimenez singled and took second on a wild pitch. Connor Owings roped an RBI double for a 1-0 Rockers lead. Quincy Latimore’s two-run homer put High Point ahead 3-0. Evan Edwards followed with a single before newcomer Trey Martin, acquired on Wednesday in a trade with York, drew a walk. With two on, Brian Parreira doubled home both runs to make it a 5-0 advantage. Clayton Mehlbauer then singled home Parreira before scoring on a Martin Figueroa single for a 7-0 advantage.

Scolaro (W, 4-1) went all seven innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out six. It was the first complete game turned in by a Rockers starter since Mickey Jannis in 2023.

The Rockers and Revolution started the day at 11 a.m. by completing the game that started Wednesday night and was suspended due to rain. Scoreless through three innings, Rudy Martin, Jr. put the Revolution up 1-0 in the fourth inning with a solo homer

High Point tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth when Ben Aklinski drew a walk to start the frame. After stealing second, Aklinski moved to third on a single by Connor Owings and then scored when Quincy Latimore bounced out to third.

Cooper Casad started for the Rockers on Wednesday night and kept York scoreless into the third. Lefty Nate Espelin finished off a scoreless third on Thursday morning and pitched until turning it over to Kyle Halbohn in the sixth. The veteran righty loaded the bases in the seventh before striking out Zander Wiel and Alfredo Reyes then escaping unharmed by getting Alex Pantojoa to ground out to second. Halbohn did not allow a hit in his two innings of work.

Will Carter took the mound for the Rockers in the eighth and kept the Revs scoreless through his two innings of work while striking out three.

York’s Aaron Fletcher went six innings and allowed three hits and four walks before exiting prior to the 10^th. Aaron Holiday inherited the “ghost” runner on second in the form of D.J. Burt. After Burt stole third and Ben Aklinski drew a walk, Holiday fanned Connor Owings before walking Latimore to load the bases.

In the eleventh, Welker hit a soft roller up the first base line that neither first baseman Evan Edwards or pitcher Dakota Chalmers (L, 0-1) could reach in time to make a play. That allowed Matt McDermott to score from third with the winning run.

The Rockers will start a six-game homestand at Truist Point when they entertain the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Friday at 6:35 p.m. The homestand continues next week when Gastonia visits for three games from Tuesday, July 23 through Thursday, July 25.

NOTES: Owings went five-for-nine in the two games on Thursday… He recorded 13 base hits on the six-game road trip with three home runs and eight RBI… He leads the Rockers with a .380 batting average away from home… Mickey Jannis threw the last complete game by a Rocker, going seven innings in an 8-2 win at Gastonia on Sept. 5, 2023… Trey Martin started both games for the Rockers, playing left in the first game and center in the nightcap when Ben Aklinski played second base… Former Rocker Zander Wiel went one-for-seven in the two games and was picked off second base by Scolaro in the nightcap… High Point outfielder Gilberto Jimenez picked up an assist when he threw York 1B David Washington out at first base from right field for a 9-3 putout in the seventh inning of the second game.

YORK, Pa. – In a meeting of competing winning streaks, the High Point Rockers had their seven-game winning streak snapped in a back-and-forth 8-7 loss to the York Revolution on Tuesday night at WellSpan Park. The win extended York’s winning streak to six consecutive games.

The Rockers held a 6-2 lead in the fourth but could not hold on down the stretch as High Point fell to 43-29 overall and 7-2 in the South Division. York, the North Division’s first half champion, improved to 6-3 in the second half and 49-23 on the season.

The Rockers struck for three runs in the first as Ben Aklinski singled with one out, Connor Owings drew a walk from York starter Michael Horrell and Quincy Latimore brought home both runners with a double. After a walk to Evan Edwards, Jake Washer singled to score Latimore and give the Rockers a 3-0 lead.

York scored its first run in the bottom of the first when Rudy Martin, Jr. doubled, took third when an errant pickoff throw resulted in an obstruction call on the Rockers, then scored on a passed ball.

York made it a 3-2 game with a run in the third on singles by Matt McDermott and Colton Welker.

Ben Aklinski’s 17^th homer of the year, a three-run shot in the fourth, put the Rockers back on top 6-2. York clawed back to make it 6-3 in the bottom of the fourth when former Rocker Zander Wiel doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch then scored on a double play grounder.

The Revs knotted the game at 6-6 in the fifth on a sac fly by Welker and solo homers by Matt McDermott and Wiel off High Point starter Neil Ramirez.

Ramirez went 4.2 innings and allowed eight hits and six runs while walking one and striking out three.

High Point forged a 7-6 lead in the top of the sixth on Brian Parreira’s solo homer. But York regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a pair of runs coming on an RBI single from Martin and a run-scoring double from Welker off High Point reliever Jacob Edwards (L, 5-1).

Four Rockers each had a pair of hits on Tuesday including Aklinski, Gilberto Jimenez, Jake Washer and Parreira.

Game two of the three-game series is will take place at 6:30 on Wednesday at WellSpan Park.

NOTES: The game was delayed 43 minutes in the bottom of the second due to rain… Former Rocker Zander Wiel went two-for-four with a homer and one RBI on Tuesday… Gastonia was leading Southern Maryland 10-9 in the eighth inning on Tuesday night… A Gastonia win would put the Baseball Club at 6-3 in the second half, one full game behind the Rockers.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The High Point Rockers used the long ball to derail the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars 8-2 on Sunday afternoon at Meritus Park. The Rockers blasted five home runs with Clayton Mehlbauer hitting two, each to dead center field, in winning their seventh straight game.

The Rockers improved to 7-1 in the second half and continue to hold a two-game lead over Gastonia (5-3) in the Atlantic League’s South Division second half pennant race.

The Rockers scored three times in the third when Ben Aklinski singled and Connor Owings followed with a homer, his third consecutive game with a round-tripper. After a Quincy Latimore groundout, Evan Edwards followed with a solo homer to give High Point a 3-0 lead.

Mehlbauer added a solo homer leading off the fourth inning to put the Rockers in front 4-0.

The Boxcars tallied a pair of runs off Rockers’ starter Cam Bedrosian (W, 5-1) in the fourth. Welington Dotel coaxed a two-out walk in front of back-to-back doubles by Dariel Gomez and Blake Berry.

High Point extended the lead to 5-2 when Gilberto Jimenez led off the top of the seventh with a solo homer, his first as a Rocker.

Bedrosian went five innings, yielding four hits and two runs while striking out six. Garrett Schilling, Will Carter and Zach Vennaro each threw a shutout inning in relief.

Hagerstown starter Anthony Rodriguez (L, 0-3) allowed eight hits,  three walks and four runs in his 4.2 innings of work.

Mehlbauer added his second homer of the game in the eighth to extend High Point’s lead to 7-2, driving in Brian Parreira who had drawn a two-out talk. High Point added a run in the ninth when Aklinski walked, stole second, went to third when a pick-off throw from the catcher rolled into center, and scored on a check-swing single by Edwards that rolled slowly up the third baseline and never crossed the foul line.

Nate Espelin, a lefty who signed with the Rockers earlier this week, retired Hagerstown in order in the ninth to highlight his first professional outing.

Edwards finished with three hits and a pair of RBI while Mehlbauer had three runs driven in on his two homers. Owings added two hits and two RBI.

The Rockers will enjoy an off-day on Monday and then begin a three-game series at York on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

NOTES: The Rockers have now won seven straight games, their second-longest of the year… The longest was an eight-game streak from June 8-16… In a statistical oddity, the Rockers had 11 base hits in 36 at-bats in each of the three games at Hagerstown… The Rockers had 15 extra base hits in the series including seven doubles and eight home runs.

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – High Point’s Connor Owings banged out four hits and drove in three runs to lead the Rockers to a 6-3 win over Hagerstown on Saturday night at Meritus Park.

Owings contributed a two-run homer in the first, doubled and scored in the fourth, doubled in the seventh and knocked an RBI double in the ninth. His three doubles tied the club record for doubles in a game, sharing the mark with Michael Russell and Tyler Ladendorf.

With two outs in the bottom of the first, Owings hit his 12^th homer of the year with Ben Aklinski aboard following a single, to give the Rockers a 2-0 lead.

High Point added three runs in the fourth. Owings led off with a double and Quincy Latimore sent a grounder up the middle. Hagerstown second baseman Cito Culver fielded the ball and threw wildly to third in an attempt to cut down Owings with both runners reaching safely. Evan Edwards singled to score Owings and send Latimore to third. Brian Parreira then delivered an RBI single and Mason Maxwell hit a sac fly to right to give High Point a 5-0 lead.

Dariel  Gomez hit a solo homer to start the bottom of the fourth to make it a 5-1 game. The Boxcars closed the gap in the fifth when Culver doubled home a run and Welington Dotel followed with an RBI single to pull Hagerstown to within 5-3.

High Point starter Stephen Ridings went 4.2 innings and allowed three runs while yielding eight hits and striking out six.

Lefty Jacob Edwards (W, 5-0) kept the Boxcars scoreless through the seventh. Kyle Halbohn pitched around a single and a double in the eighth while striking out two to maintain the Rockers 5-3 lead.

The Rockers added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Maxwell and Gilberto Jimenez drew walks before Owings doubled to right to make it a 6-3 game.

Hagerstown starter Yeudy Garcia (L, 1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing seven runs and five hits over five innings of work.

Dakota Chalmers (S, 2) put the Boxcars down in order in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.

The Rockers improved to 6-1 in the second half of the Atlantic League season and 41-28 on the season.

The series finale is slated for a 5 o’clock start on Sunday at Meritus Park.

NOTES: Gastonia was losing at Lexington 7-1 in the seventh inning. A Gastonia loss would leave the Rockers with a two-game lead in the South Division in the race for the Atlantic League second half pennant… Gilberto Jimenez had his hitting streak snapped at six, marking his first hitless game as a Rocker… Jacob Edward is now 5-0 on the year with each of his wins coming in relief efforts.