GASTONIA, N.C. – The High Point Rockers may have led from start to finish but not without a season’s worth of drama in defeating Gastonia 14-12 on Wednesday night at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia.

The Rockers had an 8-2 lead in the fourth that shrank to a 10-9 advantage after six innings. And after going to the bottom of the ninth leading 14-9, Gastonia rallied to score three times before the Rockers recorded the final out on the warning track.

With the Rockers leading 10-9 in the ninth, singles by Evan Edwards and Colin Moran and a walk to Ben Aklinski loaded the bases for Zander Wiel who then deposited Cory Thompson’s pitch over the wall for a grand slam and a 14-9 High Point lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and closer Jameson McGrane on the mound for the Rockers, Gastonia used a ground rule double by Dean Miller and a single by Hidekel Gonzalez to set the table for a three-run homer from Kevin Watson, Jr. that pulled Gastonia to within two at 14-12. After allowing a double to Joe Gray, Jr., McGrane was able to get Patrick Mazeika to fly out to Evan Edwards on the warning track in right to seal the win for High Point.

The win leaves the Rockers (34-21) trailing Gastonia (38-17) by four games with eight left to play. The two teams meet again on Thursday night in Gastonia then play a three-game set at Truist Point next week.

The Rockers opened the scoring in their first at-bat when Ben Aklinski doubled off the wall in left field and scored when Colin Moran lined a single down the right field line. Zander Wiel followed with a double to left that moved Moran to third. DH Jake Washer then hit a Texas Leaguer to right where it was bobbled by Eric De La Rosa as both Moran and Wiel scored and Washer took second. Brian Parreira then smacked a two-run homer to left to put High Point ahead 5-0.

Josh Stowers answered back with a solo homer for Gastonia in the bottom of the first, making it a 5-1 game. Watson, Jr.’s solo blast in the bottom of the third narrowed High Point’s lead to 5-2.

The Rockers added two more runs in the fourth to forge a 7-2 lead. A solo homer by Washer was followed by a triple by rookie Fritz Genther. D.J. Burt hit a Baltimore chop that cleared the head of third baseman Dean Miller and reached the outfield as Genther trotted home.

Gastonia’s Jake Gatewood singled in the bottom of the fourth, moved to third on a double by Josh Wylie then scored on an infield groundout by De La Rosa to make it an 8-3 game.

In the fifth inning, a double by Wiel and a single back through the box by Connor Owings increased High Point’s lead to 9-3.

Gastonia tagged High Point starter Neil Ramirez for four runs in the fifth including a three-run homer from Justin Wylie as Gastonia pulled to within two at 9-7.

The Rockers pushed the lead to 10-7 in the top of the sixth when Burt doubled and scored on a fielding error by Gastonia reliever Ian McKinney.

In the bottom of the sixth, Gastonia loaded the bases with one out off reliever Braeden Ogle (W, 1-0). After a walk to Joe Gray, Jr. forced in one run, a fly ball to Wiel in left led to a 7-5 double play and the Rockers escaped with a 10-9 lead.

The Rockers left a pair of runners on board in the top of the seventh and High Point reliever Zach Vennaro was able to pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh to maintain High Point’s 10-9 lead.

Ryan Meisinger pitched around a single in the eighth as the Rockers maintained their 14-9 lead.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs overpowered the High Point Rockers 6-1 on Sunday as the three-game series came to a close at Truist Point. The Rockers won the series by a count of 2-1.

The Rockers sent Cooper Casad to the mound and he threw five shutout innings in his first appearance in more than two years. Casad was a member of High Point’s starting rotation in 2022 when he suffered an arm injury that required surgery and a long rehab. Sunday was his first time back on the mound since April 28, 2022.

Casad exited with the game still scoreless, having allowed just four hits. Southern Maryland starter Garrett Martin held the Rockers without a run through five as well.

Southern Maryland put its first run on the board in the sixth off High Point reliever Zach Muckenhirn (L, 3-1) when Brandon Pugh singled, stole second, and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Josh Broughton.

High Point’s Ben Aklinski smacked a double in the bottom of the sixth, making him the first Rocker to reach second base. He was singled home by Connor Owings to tie the game at 1-1.

Southern Maryland took a 2-1 lead in the eighth when Pugh walked, moved to second on a sac bunt then scored the go-ahead run on a single by Anthony Brocato.

The Blue Crabs put the game away with a four-run outburst in the top of the ninth. David McKay retired the first two batters then allowed a single to Caleb Marquez, a walk to Pugh and Michael Wielansky single home Marquez for a 3-1 Blue Crab lead. Pinch-hitter Aaron Hill then blasted a three-run homer to give So. Maryland a 6-1 lead.

Jason Creasy (W, 4-0) pitched the seventh and eighth innings for SMD, allowing two hits while striking out three. Endrys Briceno retired the Rockers in order in the ninth to seal the win.

High Point could not take advantage of Gastonia’s 5-4 loss at Charleston on Sunday. Entering the final two weeks of the first half of play in the Atlantic League, Gastonia (37-16) maintains a four-game lead over the Rockers (33-20).

The Rockers will face the Gastonia Baseball Club in a three-game series starting on Tuesday at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers’ offense powered past the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs with a 9-1 win at Truist Point on Saturday night. The offense was greatly aided by a Rockers pitching staff that held the Blue Crabs to just five hits while striking out 13.

High Point third baseman Colin Moran led the Rockers’ offense with four hits, three runs batted in, a double and a homer to highlight the 11-hit attack.

The Rockers were unable to pick up any ground on Gastonia as the two clubs battle for the Atlantic League’s South Division first half pennant. Gastonia held a 13-1 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning at Charleston late Saturday night. A Gastonia win would leave it with a 37-15 record and a four-game lead over High Point which stands at 33-19 following Saturday’s win.

The Rockers were able to reach Southern Maryland starter Shawn Semple (L, 1-6) early, scoring six runs in the second inning. Jake Washer laced a two-run double to score Moran and Connor Owings. Clayton Mehlbauer followed with a run-scoring ground out to plate Zander Wiel. D.J. Burt singled home Washer and was able to score on a wild pitch. Ben Aklinski added an RBI single to score Evan Edwards for the 6-0 advantage.

On the mound, High Point’s Taylor Guerrieri held SMD to just 2 hits over his five innings of work while walking one and striking out five. He retired the final batters he faced. Braeden Ogle and Zach Vennaro each threw a shutout frame and Austin Ross allowed the lone run on a pair of singles in the eighth. Ryan Meisinger retired the Blue Crabs in order in the ninth to seal the win.

With High Point up 6-0, Moran blasted a homer in the fifth inning, his seventh of the season, to push the lead to 7-0. Moran struck again in the sixth inning with a two-run double to score Burt and Aklinski.

Semple yielded eight hits and seven runs, five earned, over his five innings of work while walking two and striking out three.

The final game of the series between the Blue Crabs and the Rockers is slated for a 4:05 p.m start on Sunday, June 23rd.

by Katelyn Hunter

HIGH POINT, N.C. –  The High Point Rockers snapped a three-game losing streak with a 5-3 win against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in front of a crowd of 1,911 at Truist Point on Friday night. Rockers’ starter Cam Bedrosian (W, 3-0) held the Blue Crabs to a six scoreless innings while striking out a career-best 11.

The Rockers grabbed an early lead in the first inning after Ben Aklinski blasted a three-run homer to score Evan Edwards and Ryan Grotjohn. Grotjohn had reached on a leadoff single and Edwards followed with a double to set the table for Aklinski’s 11^th homer of the year.

The Blue Crabs failed to earn a run after loading the bases with nobody out in the second inning. Juan Kelly singled followed by a walk to Josh Broughton and Bedrosian hit Miles Williams with a pitch. Bredrosian then struck out Aaron Hill, Matt Hibbert and Isaias Quiroz to escape the jam.

In the second frame, Grojohn was walked to first and Evan Edwards smacked his sixth home run of the year, giving High Point a 5-0 advantage.

Southern Maryland loaded the bases with two outs in the third inning but could not score after Bedrosian struck out Miles Williams.

Bedrosian after six innings, having allowed just three hits and a pair of walks while fanning 11. David McKay pitched around a single and a walk in the seventh to keep the Blue Crabs scoreless. 

Trailing 5-0 in the ninth, Southern Maryland loaded the bases against High Point reliever Jacob Edwards on a pair of walks and an infield error. Jameson McGrane came on and stuck out Brandon Pugh before allowing a bases-clearing double to Michael Wielansky. McGrane fanned Anthony Brocato for the final out to earn his 10^th save of the year.

Ian Kahaloa (L, 4-5) took the loss, allowing six hits and five runs over five innings with two walks and six strikeouts.

“It was nice to grab the lead early, that gave us a nice boost,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe.  “We were able to get ahead and make it easy on ourselves after three pretty high stress games (in Gastonia).  Bedrosian threw well and it was good to see him be able to work out of a couple jams in the early going and settle down. That ninth inning got a little scary for a minute but props to Jameson for coming in and shutting it down to get one that we really needed.”

Gastonia (36-15) defeated Lexington 8-2 on Friday night to maintain a four-game lead over the Rockers (32-19) in the Atlantic League’s South Division pennant race. There are 12 games remaining before the first half closes on July 5.

The second game of this three game series against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs is slated for a 6:35 p.m start on Saturday, June 22nd.

GASTONIA, N.C. – For the third consecutive night, the High Point Rockers and the Gastonia Baseball Club went to the bottom of the ninth inning in a tie game at Gastonia’s CaroMont Health Park. And for the third straight time, Gastonia emerged with a hard-fought one-run win. Kevin Watson, Jr.’s single to center scored Josh Stowers from second base and hand Gastonia a 5-4 win.

The win gives Gastonia (35-15) a four-game lead over the Rockers (31-19) in the race for the Atlantic League’s South Division pennant. There are 13 games remaining before the first half closes on July 5.

High Point closer Jameson McGrane (L, 2-2) retired the first two hitters in the ninth before Stowers doubled and came around to score on a single by Watson.

High Point had taken a 3-0 lead in the third when Brian Parreira drew a lead-off walk from Gastonia starter Mike Wright, Jr. before moving to third on a single by D.J. Burt. Ryan Grotjohn followed with a single, sending Parreira home with the first run of the game and landing Burt at third. Another single by Evan Edwards scored Burt as the Rockers went ahead 2-0. Colin Moran then hit a sac fly to left to plate Grotjohn as the Rockers took a 3-0 lead.

Gastonia got one run back in the bottom of the third when Jake Gatewood’s double scored Josh Stowers who had singled.

Gastonia tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer by Marc Flores following a walk to Eric De La Rosa. GBC then went ahead for the first time in the bottom of the sixth when Rockers starter Neil Ramirez Eric De La Rosa reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second, and scored on a single and an outfield error to put GBC up 4-3.

High Point loaded the bases against Gastonia reliever Steffon Moore in the seventh. D.J. Burt walked and Ryan Grotjohn singled before Evan Edwards was walked. Gastonia brought in reliever Nate Peden who struck out Ben Aklinski and induced Colin Moran to ground out to first with Burt scoring to knot the game at 4-4.

Austin Ross worked a scoreless seventh inning for the Rockers and Garrett Schilling came on the for the Rockers in the eighth and worked around a single and a hit batter to keep the game tied.

The Rockers were able to get the lead-off man on in the ninth when Burt singled but Grotjohn grounded into a double play to end the threat.

The Rockers will return home on Friday to start a three-game homestand with Southern Maryland. Game time is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.

GASTONIA, N.C. – For the second straight night, the High Point Rockers and Gastonia Baseball Club battled to a tie through nine innings before GBC won the game in the bottom of the 10^th. Wednesday night it was a bloop single to right that scored Eric Da La Rosa to give Gastonia a 3-2 win at Gastonia’s CaroMont Health Park.

The win puts Gastonia (34-15) three games in front of the Rockers (31-18) in the race for the South Division first half pennant.

Stowers’ hit was just the ninth of the game as Gastonia managed six hits while the Rockers were held to just three.

Stowers staked Gastonia to a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the fourth off High Point starter Ben Braymer.

Trailing 1-0 in the sixth, High Point catcher Brian Parreira coaxed a walk from Gastonia starter Nick Wells. Rockers second baseman D.J. Burt then homered to left on the 10^th pitch of the at-bat, giving the Rockers a 2-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the sixth, Braymer allowed a one out double to Jake Gatewood who came around to score on a single by Gastonia catcher Patrick Mazeika to knot the game at 2-2.

The game remained knotted at 2-2 through the ninth inning and into extra innings. The Rockers were unable to score in the top of the 10^th and Ryan Meisinger (L, 1-1) came on to face Gastonia in the bottom of the 10th. After a sac bunt by Jake Hoover moved Eric De La Rosa to third, Meisinger was able to strikeout Jack Reinheimer for the second out of the inning but Stowers blooped a single to right that scored De La Rosa and gave Gastonia a second consecutive extra inning walk-off win. Gastonia’s Cory Thompson (W, 2-0) pitched a shutout 10^th inning to earn the win.

Braymer went five innings and allowed just two hits while walking three and striking out five.

Ben Aklinski, Colin Moran and Burt accounted for High Point’s three hits. Stowers led Gastonia with two hits and two RBI.

Game three of the series is slated for a 7:00 p.m. first pitch on Thursday at CaroMont Health Park in Gastonia.