FREDERICK, Md. – The High Point Rockers exploded for a franchise record 14 runs in the ninth inning en route to a 22-2 win over the Spire City Ghost Hounds on Saturday night at Nymeo Field.

The Rockers held a comfortable 8-2 lead going into the top of the ninth inning and then blew up for a club record 14 runs. The 14 runs came on nine hits and one Ghost Hound error. Every Rocker in the line-up scored at least once in the ninth with five players scoring twice. Ben Aklinski had five RBI in the inning, on a run-scoring single his first time through and on a grand slam on his second at-bat of the inning. Daikan Yoh, Brian Parreira, and D.J. Burt each had a double in the ninth.

The Rockers had multiple big innings, scoring four runs in the fifth and three in the eighth before the ninth inning gala.

Spire City had taken a 1-0 lead in the first when Jose Marmolejos hit his 18^th homer of the year off High Point starter Justin Nicolino (W, 4-0). Quincy Latimore tied the game in the third with the first of his two home runs. The Rockers had a four-run outburst in the fifth, tallying on a Beau Taylor RBI single and a Zander Wiel three-run homer.

The Ghost Hounds narrowed the deficit to 5-2 in the sixth an a run-scoring hit by Osvaldo Abreu.

Latimore’s second homer, with D.J. Burt and Shed Long, Jr. aboard, gave High Point a n 8-2 lead after eight innings.

Spire City starter Zac Rosscup took the loss, going five innings and allowing seven hits and four walks on six strikeouts while allowing High Point’s first five runs.

Sam Selman, Jameson McGrane and Jeremy Rhoades each threw a scoreless inning in relief of Nicolino.

With the win, the Rockers improve to 11-7 in the second half and 52-29 overall.

The series continues on Sunday with game two of the three-game set slated for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday at Nymeo Field.

NOTES: The Rockers set season highs with 22 runs scored, 21 hits, 22 RBI and 37 total bases… The Rockers hit .429 as a team (21-for-49), tying for their second-highest average of the season… Justin Nicolino has now won four of his five starts this season and has gone at least five innings in each start… The 22 runs scored rank as the second-most in club history behind 25 runs scored at Lexington on 7/20/22… The nine hits in an inning stands as a new club mark… The 21 hits tie for the second-most in club history.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The High Point Rockers managed just four hits in a 4-1 loss to Lancaster on Thursday night in front of a crowd of 2,012 at Truist Point.

The game was an opportunity for High Point manager Jamie Keefe to use his bullpen as six different pitchers saw action.

Lancaster opened the scoring when Chad Sedio hit a solo homer leading off the second off High Point starter Neil Ramirez (L, 1-1). The Barnstormers went up 3-0 when Trace Loehr was hit by a pitch by Jeremy Rhoades to start the third, moved to third on a single by Melvin Mercedes and scored when John Daly’s throw back to the infield rolled all the way to the third base dugout. Mercedes would score on an RBI single by Andretty Cordero.

Lancaster starter Brent Teller (W, 7-4) retired the first nine Rockers he faced until D.J. Burt led off the bottom of the fourth with a ground rule double to center. After a walk to Ryan Grotjohn, Shed Long, Jr. grounded into a 6-3 double play that moved Burt to third. Daikan Yoh then beat out an infield single that plated Burt and cut the Lancaster lead to 3-1.

Joe Johnson pitched a scoreless fourth inning and Taylor Guerrieri followed suit, putting the ‘Stormers down in the fifth while working around a hit and a walk. Austin Ross faced just six batters in retiring Lancaster in order in the sixth and seventh. He did allow a run in the eighth on a Chad Sedio double and an RBI single from Wilson Garcia.

The Rockers’ best opportunity to score came in the eighth when Lancaster reliever Nick Duron walked Ben Aklinski and D.J. Burt to open the inning. But Duron then struck out Grotjohn, Long, Jr. and Yoh in order to escape the jam.

Burt was the only Rocker with two hits on the night, both doubles. Sedio and Yeison Coca led Lancaster with two hits each.

The Rockers are now 51-29 on the season and 10-7 in the second half of play. Gastonia leads the Atlantic League South at 10-6, a half-game in front of High Point.

The Rockers will enjoy a rare off-day on Friday before starting a three-game series at Spire City on Saturday night at 6:00 p.m. The game will be streamed live on FLO Baseball and also available on the Mixlr app.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point’s Quincy Latimore blasted a three-run homer with two outs in the seventh inning to break a 4-4 tie and lift the Rockers to a 7-4 win over the Lancaster Barnstormers on Wednesday night at Truist Point.

Latimore’s homer helped High Point overcome an early 4-1 deficit and it was a measure of redemption for the 34-year-old outfielder who has been with the Rockers from their birth in 2019 but is coming off a knee injury that kept him out of action until this month. He had also struck out in each of his first three at-bats against Lancaster starter Dominic DiSabatino. But in the seventh, Latimore was facing reliever Brandyn Sittinger (L, 4-7).

“It looked like old times in the seventh but not in my first three at-bats,” said Latimore following the game. “But I came through when we needed it the most and that’s what counts.”

After this third strikeout, Latimore had sought the advice of hitting coach George Greer.

“What am I going to do?” Latimore asked the veteran coach. “George told me to shorten up (my stride), widen (my stance) and take a two-strike approach. I got (the count) to 2-0 and I chased a low pitch but the swing felt good, I wasn’t fooled by it. Then he came with a 2-1 fastball and I got all of it.”

Latimore’s homer broke a 4-4 tie and set the table for Rockers relievers Jameson McGrane, in the eighth, and Ryan Dull, in the ninth, to shut the door on the Barnstormers over the final two innings. The save was Dull’s 14^th of the year.

“I knew he was down on himself,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe of Latimore. “He didn’t look like himself but I knew George would talk to him.”

Just prior to the momentous home run, Keefe called time to speak with Latimore along the third base line.

“I just told him to relax and get something good to hit,” said Keefe. “I told him ‘they’re not going to pitch around you.’ I can’t feel better for anybody more than I do for him. I’m pumped up for him.”

Much like Tuesday’s game, Lancaster came out swinging right from the very start. After Melvin Mercedes beat out an infield single to lead off the top of the first, Yeison Coca doubled to put runners on second and third. Andretty Cordero delivered a sac fly to left and Coca scored on a groundout by Ariel Sandoval for a 2-0 ‘Stormer lead.

The Barnstormers added a run in the third on a single by Mercedes and an RBI double from Cordero to put Lancaster up 3-0.

High Point cut into the lead in the fourth when Daikan Yoh walked and scored from first on a double in the gap by Ryan Grotjohn. The ‘Stormers make it a 4-1 game in the fifth when Mercedes singled, his third consecutive hit, and scored on Ariel Sandoval double.

The Rockers tied the game with three runs in the fifth. After Brian Parreira and Shed Long, Jr. started the frame with singles off Lancaster starter Dominic DiSabatino, D.J. Burt cleared the bases with a triple to right center and Ben Aklinski followed with a sac fly that brought Burt home to knot the game at 4-4.

Mitch Atkins started the game for High Point and went five innings after allowing seven hits and four runs but left with the game tied 4-4. Bryce Hensley (W, 6-1) pitched the sixth and seventh innings, allowing just one hit and earning his sixth win of the year.

Game three of the series is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Thursday night at Truist Point. It will be Thirsty Thursday with drink specials in the ballpark. The game will be streamed live by FLO Baseball and also available on the Mixlr app.

NOTES: Latimore’s home run was his first of the season but the 49^th of his Rockers career. He and Zander Wiel are tied for the franchise lead with 49 homers each… Ryan Dull’s 14^th save of the year sets a club record for saves in a season. Dull already holds the club record with 27 career saves… The win for Bryce Hensley gave him the Rockers’ all-time lead in victory as it was the 14^th of his career. Craig Stem has 13 career wins as a Rocker… Lancaster has blasted 10 doubles in the first two games of the series… Thursday’s pitching matchup will have the Rockers going with RHP Ryan Weiss (5-3, 4.61) against Lancaster righty Brent Teller (6-4, 7.34)

HIGH POINT, N.C. – Lancaster unleashed 13 hits including seven doubles as the Barnstormers defeated High Point 9-3 on Wednesday night at Truist Point in the opening game of a three-game series.

The loss leaves the Rockers at 9-6 in the second half of the Atlantic League season and 50-28 overall. The Rockers trail Gastonia by a half game in the South Division in the second half race.

Lancaster used a trio of first inning doubles to take an early 2-0 lead. Melvin Mercedes led off the game with a double and scored on a double by Andretty Cordero. Chad Sedio’s double then plated Sandoval for a 2-0 Lancaster lead.

The Rockers took a 3-2 lead with a three-run flurry in the third. Michael Russell singled and scored on a triple by Shed Long, Jr. After D.J. Burt was hit by a pitch, Ben Aklinski drove home Long, Jr. with a double and Beau Taylor delivered a sacrifice fly to plate Burt.

Lancaster rallied with two outs in the fourth off High Point starter Jheyson Manzueta (L, 3-1), collecting five consecutive base hits. After Trace Loehr singled, he scored on an RBI double by Mercedes who came around to score on a double by Yeison Coca. Cordero followed with a run-scoring single to put Lancaster ahead 5-3.

The Barnstormers added a pair of runs in the sixth on an RBI double from Jack Conleyu and a run-scoring single by Coca. Lancaster added two unearned runs in the ninth on an RBI double by Cordro and a ground out by Wilson Garcia.

Aklinski led the Rockers with three hits while Daikan Yoh added a pair of singles. Cordero finished the night with three hits, three RBI and a pair of doubles.

High Point and Lancaster will play game two of their three-game series on Wednesday at 6:35 p.m. at Truist Point. The game will be streamed live on FLO Baseball and also available on the Mixlr app.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – High Point’s Mickey Jannis bparreecame the first nine-game winner in the Atlantic League this season and the Rockers reached the 50 win milestone faster than any other club in franchise history with a 10-3 win over Long Island on Sunday afternoon at Truist Point. The Rockers took the series two games to one and in the process became the first ALPB team with 50 wins this season.

Jannis, a knuckleballer, went six innings and struck out six while scattering six hits. He improved to 9-3 on the season as the High Point offense supported him with 14 hits and took advantage of three Long Island errors.

The Rockers reached their 50^th win faster than any other team in club history. At 50-27, the Rockers needed just 77 games to reach the half century mark. The next fastest club was the 2021 team that needed 90 games (50-40) to get to the record. In addition, the Rockers moved back into first place in the Atlantic League’s South Division at 9-5, a half-game in front of Gastonia at 8-5.

High Point scored twice in the first inning off Long Island starter Robert Stock (L, 5-2) who was coming off a no-hitter in his last outing. Shed Long, Jr. led off with a double followed by a walk to D.J. Burt. After Long took third on a wild pitch, Long Island catcher Joe DeCarlo threw to second to try and catch a stealing Burt but the throw sailed past second and into the outfield, allowing Long, Jr. to score and moving Burt to third. Ben Aklinski’s ground out to second brought home the Rockers’ second run of the inning.

The Rockers added a single run in the second on an infield hit by Michael Martinez and an RBI single from Burt. Long Island cut the deficit to 3-1 with a run in the top of the third on a triple by former Rocker Trent Taylor and an RBI single from Boog Powell.

High Point extended its advantage to 6-1 in the third inning when Ryan Grotjohn singled home Beau Taylor and Michael Russell delivered a two-run single.

Long Island scored twice in the fourth on a walk to Alex Dickerson, a single by Brian Goodwin and a two-run double from Trent Taylor. But that would be all the runs the Ducks could muster.

Stock departed after five innings, having allowed 13 hits and all 10 runs while walking two and striking out three.

High Point added a run in the fourth when Burt reached on an error and scored on a double by Daikan Yoh. The Rockers went out in front 10-3 with three runs in the fifth. Brian Parreira hit an RBI double, Burt brought home a run with an infield ground out and Aklinski knocked in a run with a triple.

“It’s great to win the series from Long Island and last night’s win was important but today we came out and really swung the bats and Mickey did a nice job,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “The bullpen was awesome and anytime you play at home and have a chance to take a series from Long Island, that’s awesome.”

 

High Point’s Neil Ramirez, who came off the injured list this weekend after not having pitched since May 12, retired all six batters in the seventh and eighth innings, logging a pair of strikeouts. Cam Bedrosian fanned all three hitters he faced in the ninth to seal the win.

 

“We’ve got a really hot ball club coming in here in Lancaster so it will be good to get (Monday) off and then get ready for that series,” said Keefe.

 

Long, Jr. led the Rockers with four hits while Burt finished with three runs scored. Burt, Aklinski and Russell each finished with a pair of RBI. Long Island was led by Taylor and Powell who each had a pair of hits.

 

The Rockers will have an off-day on Monday before resuming their homestand on Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. against the Lancaster Barnstormers. The game will be streamed live on FLO Baseball and will also be available on the Mixlr app.

HIGH POINT, N.C. –High Point’s Justin Nicolino allowed just three hits over seven innings as the Rockers shutout out the Long Island Ducks 6-0 on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 2,374 at Truist Point.

Nicolino (W, 3-0) allowed a one out double to Brantley Bell in the first inning followed by a walk to Alejandro De Aza but left both runners stranded. Nicolino then set down the next 16 batters until Bell beat out an infield single with two outs in the sixth. After Bell stole second, De Aza laced a sharp single to right. Ben Aklinski picked the ball up and fired a strike to the plate where catcher Brian Parreira tagged the sliding Bell for the third out of the inning. It marked Aklinski’s seventh outfield assist of the season.

“Nicolino pitched beautifully,” said Rockers manager Jamie Keefe. “That’s one heckuva a lineup over there, they’ve got a lot of hitters with big league time. He controlled the zone from the first hitter and throughout his seven innings. He was loving it and having fun and he is really fun to play behind because he’s throwing strikes and getting ahead of hitters. Our defense was really outstanding tonight.”

Nicolino went seven innings and allowed three hits while walking one and striking out six. Jameson McGrane retired the Ducks in order in the eighth and Ryan Dull tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Long Island starter Joe Iorio (L, 3-6) retired Shed Long, Jr. on strikes to start the first but then gave up a single to D.J. Burt. Daikan Yoh grounded to Long Island third baseman Joe DeCarlo who mishandled the ball leaving runners at first and second. Aklinski then unloaded his 12^th homer of the year to give the Rockers a 3-0 lead.

In the eighth, the Rockers tallied three more runs. A single by D.J. Burt and a walk to Yoh set the stage for a two-run double from Ryan Grotjohn. Parreira then brought Grotjohn around to score on a single for a 6-0 advantage.

Game three of the series is slated for a 4:05 p.m. first pitch on Sunday at Truist Point. The Rockers will celebrate the birthday of their mascot, HYPE. The game will be streamed live on Flo Baseball and also available on the Mixlr app.

NOTES: The Rockers’ shutout was their first since beating Charleston 16-0 on May 2… It was the first time the Ducks have been shutout since suffering a 4-0 defeat at Staten Island on May 14…Sunday’s starters will feature knuckleballer Mickey Jannis (8-3, 3.21 ERA) against Robert Stock (5-1, 4.08). In his last outing, Stock no-hit Southern Maryland 4-0 on July 18. It was just the sixth no-hitter in Atlantic League history. Both Jannis and Stock have previously pitched at the Major League level.