Rockers hammer Boxcars in finale

August 31, 2025 by Steve Shutt

HAGERSTOWN, Md. – The High Point Rockers scored 10 runs in the first inning and went on to post a 14-8 win over the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars Sunday afternoon at Meritus Park.

The win moves the Rockers to 67-44 overall on the season, the best record in the Atlantic League. In the second half, the Rockers are 26-22 and in second place in the Atlantic League’s South Division, three games behind Gastonia.

The Rockers sent 13 batters to the plate in the first inning, banging out eight hits and taking advantage of three walks in putting up 10 runs, the most runs in an opening frame since 2023. Luis Gonzalez drew a game-opening walk and Drew Mendoza doubled before Ben Aklinski walked to load the bases. After Gonzalez scored the first run on a wild pitch, Alex Dickerson unloaded a three-run homer. A single to D.J. Burt and a walk to Braxton Davidson put two men on and set up an RBI single from Nolan Watson. A walk to Ian Yetsko loaded the bases and Gonzalez doubled home two more runs followed by a two-run single from Mendoza. The final run of the inning scored on a Dickerson sac fly.

Hagerstown starter Jonh Henriquez (L, 3-8) only lasted one-third of an inning, allowing all 10 runs on seven hits with three walks.

High Point starter Jonah Scolaro (W, 9-5) earned his ninth win of the season, one of only six Atlantic League pitchers with nine or more wins this season. Scolaro went five innings, allowed nine hits and one walk while striking out five.

The Rockers added four runs in the third inning, using four walks, RBI singles from Ben Aklinski and Dickerson and a two-run single from Evan Edwards.

The Rockers were outhit 14-11 by the Flying Boxcars as Aaron Takacs went five-for-five. Dickerson led the Rockers with five RBI while Gonzalez, Mendoza, Aklinski and Edwards each finished with two hits.

The Rockers will have an off-day on Monday and then start a six-game homestand with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Tuesday, September 2 at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. It will be the Rockers’ final Senior Citizens night with all fans, age 60 or over, receiving complimentary admission to the game.

Rockers fall but Aklinski soars

August 28, 2025 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers shutout the Charleston Dirty Birds for eight innings on Thursday night. Unfortunately, it was the final eight innings of the game after the Birds had put up an eight spot in the first inning and went on to beat the Rockers 8-5 at Truist Point.

It was a valiant effort by the Rockers to chip back all night long given the deficit they put themselves in at the start of the game.

The highlight for the Rockers came in the eighth inning when Ben Aklinski became just the second player in Atlantic League history to record 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in the same season.

The Rockers continue to hold the best overall record in the Atlantic League at 65-43 and are now 24-21 in the second half. Gastonia defeated Lexington to move two games ahead of High Point in the South Division second half standings and 2.5 games in front of third place Lexington.

It was a tough night for lefty Alex Barker (L, 0-1), making his second start for the Rockers after being acquired from the New Jersey Jackals. Barker allowed a lead-off single to James Nelson, followed by a single from Alsander Woman, a three-run homer from Keon Barnum and a solo homer from Zach Daniels. That was followed by two more doubles, a walk and another three-run homer from Demetrius Moorer. When the dust cleared, Charleston had scored eight runs on eight hits.

High Point began its comeback in the bottom of the first with solo homers from Aklinski and Evan Edwards to make it an 8-2 contest.

Jake Gilbert came on in the second and posted his best outing of the year. He went four innings, allowed just one hit and one walk and struck out seven while keeping Charleston scoreless. David Hess followed with three shutout innings and Jameson McGrane struck out two in the ninth as Charleston failed to score after the first inning.

The Rockers offense showed sporadic signs of life. Aklinski added his second homer of the night and his 30^th of the season, a solo shot leading off the fifth, to cut the deficit to 8-3. The Rockers added two more in the seventh on a two-run triple from Aidan Brewer to make it 8-5.

But High Point left two men on in the eighth and Luke Napleton led off the ninth with a single to bring the tying run to the on-deck circle. But Charleston turned a 4-6-3 double play and was able to escape with the 8-5 win.

The Birds were led by Barnum and Moorer who each drove in three runs. In fact, after the first inning, the Rockers pitchers allowed just four hits and had only two runners advance to second base.

Charleston reliever Samuel Reyes (W, 4-4) was credited with the win as starter Eddy Demurias went just four innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and five strikeouts.

Aklinski walked with two outs in the eighth and stole second to record his 30^th stolen base of the season. He joins Charleston James Nelson who earned 30-30 status on Tuesday night as the only ALPB players in the 30-30 club.

Aklinski and Napleton, with two hits each, accounted for four of High Point’s seven hits in the game.

The Rockers now hit the road for a three-game series at Hagerstown, High Point’s only visit to Meritus Park this season. The Rockers will open with Erich Uelmen (4-3, 3.50) on the mound to face Flying Boxcars lefty Quinton Martinez (1-6, 5.65).

Rocker fans can catch all the action on FLOBASEBALL.TV and on the MixLR app.

The Rockers return home to start a six-game homestand with the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Rockers blank Birds

August 27, 2025 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers used outstanding pitching from Ben Wereski and Gabe Klobosits to hold the Charleston Dirty Birds to four hits in a 5-0 win on Wednesday night at Truist Point.

The win marked the eighth shutout of the season for the Rockers pitching staff.

The win gives the Rockers a 65-42 overall record and a 24-20 mark in the second half. Charleston fell to 48-59 and 18-26.

The game started as a pitcher’s duel between High Point’s Wereski (W, 2-3) and Charleston’s Jamison Hill (L, 2-14). Wereski did not yield a hit until the fourth while Hill held the Rockers to two hits until the bottom of the fourth.

Alex Dickerson started the fourth for the Rockers with a walk and came around to score when Aidan Brewer hammered his 13^th homer of the season to stake the Rockers to a 2-0 advantage.

Evan Edwards hit a solo homer with two outs in the sixth to give the Rockers a 3-0 lead.

Wereski came out after six innings, having allowed just two hits with just one walk and eight strikeouts. Hill also exited after six frames, having held the Rockers to five hits and three runs while striking out 11.

High Point added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh when Ben Aklinski and Nolan Watson each hit sacrifice flies to give the Rockers a 5-0 advantage.

Klobosits (S, 1) pitched the final three innings and allowed just one hit while walking two and striking out three.

The final game of this three-game series is set for Thursday at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. The Rockers will send lefty Alex Barker (0—0, 1.80) to the mound to face Charleston righty Eddy Demurias (5-4, 4.24). Rocker fans can catch all the action on FLOBASEBALL.TV and on the MixLR app.

Rockers drop 10-5 decision to Birds

August 26, 2025 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Charleston Dirty Birds collected 13 hits including four home runs in handing the High Point Rockers a 10-5 defeat on Tuesday night at Truist Point in the opening game of a three-game series. In addition, Charleston’s James Nelson collected his 30^th home run of the season.

Charleston’s Keon Barnum hit two home runs and drove in four runs to lead Charleston’s offense. Alex Dickerson had three hits and four RBI for the Rockers.

High Point now stands at 64-42 overall and 23-20 in the second half while Charleston moves to 48-58 and 18-25. The Rockers are in third place in the Atlantic League’s South Division with Gastonia’s game still in progress at Lexington on Tuesday night.

Nelson started the night by leading off the game with a solo homer. It marked his 30^th of the year and coupled with his 45 stolen bases, puts Nelson as the only Atlantic League player to ever post 30 homers and 30 or more stolen bases in a season.

Nelson’s first inning homer was followed by an RBI double from Joe Deluca. Keon Barnum hit his first homer in the third inning, a three-run shot off High Point starter Jonah Scolaro (L, 8-5). Zach Daniels added a solo blast in the third, Barnum hit his second, with nobody on board, in the fifth and Deluca added a solo homer in the seventh.

The Rockers scored two in the first on Dickerson’s two-run homer. Dickerson added an RBI single in the fifth and another in the seventh to account for his four RBI. Evan Edwards double home Dickerson in the seventh for his second hit and lone RBI of the night.

Charleston starter Anthony Diaz (W, 2-3) went six innings, allowed just four hits while walking four and striking out one. High Point managed seven hits on the evening.

Scolaro struck out eight in his five innings of work but allowed seven runs on eight hits and a pair of walks.

Game two of this three-game series is set for Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. The Rockers will send lefty Ben Wereski (1-3, 5.33) to the mound to face Charleston righty Eddy Demurias (5-4, 4.24). Rocker fans can catch all the action on FLOBASEBALL.TV and on the MixLR app.

NOTES: The Rockers activated Jonah Scolaro from the inactive list and placed RHP Fin Del Bonta-Smith on the inactive list prior to the game.

Rockers drop finale to Legends

August 24, 2025 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Lexington Legends claimed an 11-2 win over the High Point Rockers on Sunday afternoon at Truist Point behind the hitting of Curtis Terry who blasted two home runs including a grand slam and drove in five runs on the afternoon.

The Rockers are now 64-41 overall and 23-19 in the second half as Lexington improves to 53-51 and 22-19 in the second half. Gastonia continues to lead the South Division by one game over the Rockers at 24-18 in the second half.

The Rockers took a 1-0 lead in the second when Braxton Davidson led off with a double and came around to score on a double by Aidan Brewer.

Down 1-0 in the third, the Legends scored at least one run in each of the next six innings.

Lexington took a 4-1 lead in the third when Terry blasted a grand slam off High Point starter Fin Del Bonta-Smith (L, 0-3). Del Bonta-Smith went five innings and allowed eight hits and seven runs with two walks and six strikeouts.

Alex Dickerson hit a solo homer to right in the third to bring the Rockers to within 4-2.

Lexington added a run in the fourth for a 5-2 lead when Brian Fuentes doubled into the left field corner and scored on a single by Mason Dinesen.

The Legends’ lead grew to 7-2 in the top of the fifth as Andy Atwood and Terry started the frame with back-to-back solo homers.

Atwood drove in a run in the sixth with an RBI single, Dinesen and Gonzalez picked up RBIs in the seventh and Brady Whalen added an RBI in the eighth to complete Lexington’s scoring.

Lexington starter Christian Edwards (W, 1-1) went six innings and held the Rockers to six hits and two runs with two walks and three strikeouts. Simon Gregersen earned the save with three shutout innings, his first save of the year.

Dickerson, Luke Napleton and Nick Longhi each had a pair of hits for the Rockers. Terry led the Legends with five RBI while Atwood finished with three hits.

Following an off-day on Monday, the Rockers will resume their homestand with a three-game series with the Charleston Dirty Birds. First pitch on Tuesday, August. 26, is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point.

NOTES: Ben Aklinski’s ninth inning home run on Saturday was the 100^th of his Rockers career.

Aklinski sinks Legends

August 22, 2025 by Steve Shutt

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Ben Aklinski hit a two-run triple in the eighth inning to pull the High Point Rockers from a 4-3 deficit to a 5-4 win over the Lexington Legends in front of a crowd of 2,155 on Friday night at Truist Point. Aklinski drove in three runs on the night to pace the Rockers for their fifth straight win and a 4-0 lead in the six-game series.

The win moves the Rockers to a league-best 64-39 overall record and a 23-17 mark in the second half. The Legends fall to 51-51 on the season and 20-19 in the second half.

Aklinski’s game-winning triple was the last nail in the coffin of the Legends who battled the Rockers throughout the game with excellent pitching and timely hitting.

High Point went up 1-0 in the bottom of the first as Luis Gonzalez and Drew Mendoza greeted Lexington starter Ben Ferrer with back-to-back singles with Gonzalez moving to third on an error by Lexington right fielder E.J. Cumbo. Aklinski then brought home Gonzalez by hitting into a 6-4 fielder’s choice.

The Legends tied the game in the top of the third on a walk to Brian Fuentes and a two-out triple from Xane Washington.

Rockers starter Alex Barker, signed earlier in the day and making his first appearance as a Rocker, went five innings in his first Atlantic League start, holding the Legends to three hits and one run while walking one and striking out four.

Lexington tallied three runs in the sixth off reliever Kyle Halbohn. Andy Atwood led off with a double to center and scored on a bloop single to right by Curtis Terry. Pedro Gonzalez followed with a two-run homer as Lexington went up 3-1.

The Rockers rebounded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth when Drew Mendoza belted a two-run homer to close the margin to 4-3.

Win Scott threw a scoreless seventh inning for High Point, pitching around a walk and a single. Gabe Klobosits (W, 3-0) hurled a three-up, three-down eighth before Jameson McGrane retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his 13^th save of the season.

Aklinski’s game-winning triple came off Lexington reliever John Armstrong (L, 0-1) who came on with one on and one out in the eighth. He intentionally walked Mendoza to set up a potential double play but Aklinski spoiled the plan by lining the triple into the right field corner and scoring Burt and Mendoza.

Mendoza was the lone Rocker with two hits while also collecting a pair of RBI. Pedro Gonzalez had two hits and two RBI to go with his home run.

Game five of the six-game series is slated for a 6:35 p.m. start on Saturday at Truist Point as the Rockers will send righty Erich Uelmen (4-3, 3.17) to the mound to face Lexington righty Colton Eastman (8-6, 5.69). Fans will be entertained during the game by the Zooperstars traveling show. Rockers fans can catch all the action on FLOBASEBALL.TV and on the MixLR app.

NOTES: The Rockers acquired Alex Barker from the New Jersey Jackals of the Frontier League. Barker, who started Friday night, will take the place of Mike Devine in the High Point Rotation . . . Devine is out for the season with a shoulder injury . . . INF Max Viera was placed on the 7-day injured list and is expected back next week . . . The win gives the Rockers a 12-10 season advantage over the Legends . . . High Point’s five-game winning streak is its longest of the second half.

Rockers Home runs (exit velocity-distance): Mendoza (110-375)