blog

HIGH POINT, N.C. – The Gastonia Ghost Peppers tallied four runs in the first inning and scored in each of the first five innings in taking a 14-8 decision from the High Point Rockers in front of a matinee crowd of 3,432 on Tuesday afternoon at Truist Point.

The Rockers had invited Guilford County school children and Asheboro City school children to attend the game.

High Point starting pitcher Matt Solter (L, 1-1) could not regain the magic that helped him throw a one-hitter at Gastonia last week. On Tuesday, the Ghost Peppers opened with a pair of singles followed by back-to-back walks to score their first run of the game. A sac fly from Patrick Mazeika and a two-run double from Dalton Guthrie staked Gastonia to a 4-0 lead after one.

Four straight walks from Gastonia starter Kevin Smith netted the Rockers their first run of the game in the bottom of the first. But Gastonia added a run in the top of the second on a triple by Kevin Watson, Jr. and a sac fly from Richie Martin to take a 5-1 advantage. An RBI double from Luis Gonzalez made it a 5-2 game after two.

Gastonia added a run in the third on a double by Mazeika and an RBI single from Guthrie then tacked on six more runs in the fourth to go ahead 12-3.

Gastonia reliever Tanner Wyatt (W, 1-1) earned the win with 2.1 innings of one-hit pitching while walking two and striking out three.

The Rockers worked their way back into the game late, scoring four times in the eighth. Luke Napleton had a two-run double while Gonzalez and Ben Aklinski each drove in a run.

The Rockers now stand at 7-3 on the season while Gastonia improved to 4-6.

Gonzalez finished the day with four hits and three RBI for the Rockers while Napleton hit safely in his sixth straight game and collected two RBI.

High Point will be back under the lights on Wednesday, hosting Gastonia at 6:35 pm at Truist Point.

HIGH POINT, N.C. – April 30 is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day and the High Point Rockers are thrilled that they were early volunteers. For the last six months, the Rockers team and front office staff has welcomed Ruby, an evacuee from Asheville who was airlifted to Winston-Salem by the Bissell Pet Foundation after Hurricane Helene.

Ruby was recently featured in National Public Radio’s “Up First Newsletter” which selected the 12 best adopted shelter pet stories out of over 600 nominations. The story, titled “Workplace Joy” celebrates the positive impact Ruby has had on the Rockers’ 15 front office staff members and over 30 team personnel.

Link to NPR story:

Rockers team president Pete Fisch and his wife Melissa were contacted about serving as foster parents by the Forsyth Humane Society. They met Ruby, a mixed breed who had been rescued from flood waters in Western North Carolina. The fostering did not last long before they decided to make Ruby a part of their permanent family, joining Chip, Cooper, and Millie.

Ruby commutes daily with Pete from their home in Winston-Salem. A heartwarming presence in the Rockers front office, Ruby greets all visitors with tail wags and a welcoming demeanor. She has found her favorite resting places, determined which staff member has the best treats and anxiously awaits the arrival of the USPS mail delivery which results in additional treats. And she takes multiple walks each day with different staff members. Her daily presence offers a mental health boost to every member of the staff.

“Ruby has been a great addition to our staff and our home,” said Fisch. “Her sweet personality makes her a great ambassador for the team. Our staff has grown to love her and she, in turn, has provided great jot to every member of the team.”

Ruby will make regular appearances at Rockers games and will continue to thrive in her role as team canine ambassador.

For the Rockers, adopting a shelter pet has proven to be a life-saving decision. Ruby’s adoption has allowed her to live her best life in the loving arms of a dedicated group environment.

About High Point Baseball, Inc.

The High Point Rockers, operated by the non-profit High Point Baseball, play their home games at Truist Point, a state-of-the-art $36 million ballpark which serves as a catalyst to the rejuvenation of downtown High Point. The Rockers have reached the Atlantic League playoffs in three of four years after winning the South Division title in both halves of the 2023 season. The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an MLB Partner League, has 10 clubs from New York to North Carolina. For more, visit HighPointRockers.com.

About the High Point Downtown Stadium Foundation

The High Point Downtown Stadium Foundation, a 501c3 exists for the public benefit, providing sports, entertainment and community events at Truist Point in Downtown High Point. The non-profit serves as the anchor of a larger development initiative including private development in the Downtown area. The Foundation operates Truist Point, a state-of-the-art $36 million ballpark which serves as the home stadium for the High Point Rockers and Carolina Core FC.

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 26-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,400 players to MLB organizations while drawing over 47 million fans to its 10 family-friendly ballparks that stretch from New York to North Carolina. Please visit www.AtlanticLeague.com.