Tuesday, May 29, 2012 — CMC-NorthEast Stadium — First Pitch: 7:05 p.m. — Kannapolis, N.C.

Kannapolis Intimidators (22-28) vs. Rome Braves (13-38)

Game #51

LHP Jefferson Olacio (1-2, 2.81) vs. RHP Rafael Briceno (2-5, 6.89)

VIEW COMPLETE GAME NOTES

Today’s Preview: Jefferson Olacio, the White Sox No. 15 Prospect according to Baseball America, makes his second start of the season after the Intimidators most recent shake up to the starting rotation.  Olacio joins Matt Lane as the two left-handed relievers to move into the team’s rotation.  Rome’s Rafael Briceno has allowed a league-high 36 earned runs this season over his 10 starts.  Briceno is coming off losses in four of his last five starts.  Kannapolis looks to continue to its recent winning ways, as the Intimidators have taken six of their last eight games, including three in a row for just the second time this season.  Kannapolis has moved up to hold sole possession of 4th place in the 7-team Northern Division, a position they have not held in the standings since April 19.

About Last Night: Kannapolis scored three runs in the third and seventh innings to twice leapfrog the Braves in a 6-4 win to take the series opener on Monday.  Kevan Smith led the offense going 3-for-4 and driving in two while reliever Jason Van Skike tossed a pair of scoreless innings for the win in his season debut.

Saved By The Blough: Closer Bryan Blough has recorded saves in each of his last three relief appearances.  Despite early season struggles — he was 0-1 with a 6.30 ERA (7 ER/10 IP) and failed to convert all four save opportunities in seven games in April) – he has been dominant in 10 appearances in May, posting a 0.75 ERA (1 ER/12 IP) and holding opposing batters to a .108 average (4-37).

First Impressions: The three newest Intimidators impressed in their debut in Monday’s 6-4 win over Rome.  Cyle Hankerd and Bill Rice each went 2-for-4, and Hankerd added an RBI.  Reliever Jason Van Skike tossed two scoreless innings for a win his season debut.

On The Mark: Right fielder Mark Haddow has hit safely in his last 10 games, batting .389 (14-36) in that time.  It’s the third 10-game hitting streak by an Intimidator this season (Rangel Ravelo and Ross Wilson each have accomplished the feat in 2012).  Haddow has reached base in 13 straight home games, dating back to April 20 against Lexington.  In those 13 games, he is batting .391 (18-46) with three doubles, a triple, a home run and eight RBI.

Double Your Pleasure: Catcher Kevan Smith added two doubles to his team-leading total, giving him 16 on the season, tied for the third-most in the SAL.  Smith has six doubles over his last six games.

Ross Reaches Base: Ross Wilson went 2-for-4 at the plate on Monday to reach base in 31 of his 36 games with the Intimidators, including reaching base safely in his first 15 games since joining the team from Winston-Salem on April 19.  His .435 on-base percentage ranks third in the SAL.

Third Rounder: The White Sox added Jeff Soptic, their third round pick from the 2011 draft to the Intimidators roster on May 25.  Soptic enters the season with the Best Fastball in the White Sox organization according to Baseball America.  He made his professional debut with Advanced Rookie Bristol in 2011, working just 2.2 innings with no earned runs allowed.

A Wonder Returns: Rome’s Ryan Query, a Kannapolis native and former A.L. Brown Wonder, is making his first trip home in his pro career.  Query, who graduated from A.L. Brown in 2005, signed with Atlanta as a non-drafted free agent in 2010 and appeared in 65 games between Rookie Leagues and Double-A over the last two seasons. In six games with Rome this season, he is batting .286.  Query did play for Rome in stretches of the 2010 and 2011 seasons, but the Braves did not make a trip to Kannapolis during that time.

When Walker Runs: Keenyn Walker, the White Sox top draft pick in 2011 (47th overall), stole second base on Saturday at West Virginia, giving him 25 stolen bases on the season, the second-most in the SAL (Lexington’s Delino DeShields Jr. has 31).

When Walker Walks: Keenyn Walker drew three walks as the Intimidators leadoff hitter on Saturday in West Virginia, matching a career-high.  His 29 walks lead the team and is tied for eighth in the SAL, however his 58 strikeouts are second-most in the league.

Home Town Hero: Grant Buckner opened the offensive onslaught with his second-inning solo home run (2) at West Virginia in Friday night’s game, a 12-5 Kannapolis win.  Buckner, who is from Elkview, WV, attended West Virginia University before the White Sox selected him in the 26th round of the 2011 draft.  While with the Mountaineers, Buckner won a Big East crown with .437 average in 2011 and earned All-Big East honors.  The Intimidators infielder attended Herbert Hoover High School in Clendenin, WV.

Earlier this week, outfielder Collin Kuhn retired. The Intimidators wish him the best as he begins his life after baseball. But while it’s still fresh in our mind, we wanted to revisit perhaps his biggest highlight as a member of the Kannapolis Intimidators, a go-ahead grand slam to power the Intimidators past Delmarva on August 8, 2011.

Listen to mp3: Kuhn’s Slam

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 — L.P. Frans Stadium — Game 1 First Pitch: 4:00 PM —  Hickory, N.C.

Chicago White Sox         Kannapolis Intimidators         (17-26)

Texas Rangers         at Hickory Crawdads         (20-22)

Games #44 & #45

LHP Blair Walters (2-2, 2.84) vs. LHP Andrew Faulkner (0-2, 7.08)

LHP Jefferson Olacio (1-1, 1.61) vs. RHP Nick McBride (2-1, 3.38)

VIEW COMPLETE GAME NOTES

Today’s Preview: The Intimidators and Crawdads play their 12th and 13th games against each other in their final match up of the first half with a second consecutive doubleheader.  The teams split Monday’s action, and with the series still in the balance, the Intimidators turn to a pair of top White Sox prospects in left-handers Blair Walters and Jefferson Olacio to start today’s games on the mound.  Hickory is countering with relievers Andrew Faulkner and Nick McBride, each making a spot-start.

Walters named Pitcher of the Week: Kannapolis Intimidators starting pitcher Blair Walters has been named South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week for the week of May 14-20, 2012.  Walters helped pitch the Intimidators, Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, in a one-hit win over the Lexington Legends, 5-0, on Thursday, May 18.  The left-hander earned the win, tossing 7.0 scoreless innings of one-hit ball while striking out nine batters, one shy of his career high.  Only two other base runners reached against Walters, one hit by a pitch and another on a strikeout-wild pitch.

Walters, 22, has made eight starts this season for Kannapolis, going 2-2 with a team-best 2.84 ERA (14 ER/44.1 IP).  The White Sox drafted Walters in the 11th round in June 2011 out of the University of Hawaii.  He went 9-0 with a 4.03 ERA with the Advanced Rookie Great Falls Voyagers in his professional debut in 2011, leading the Pioneer League in wins, ranking fourth in ERA and fifth in opponent average (.272).  Walters was named Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year, and the Voyagers won the league championship.

HEAR THE HIGHLIGHT: Hickory’s Luke Jackson took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but Intimidators right-fielder Mark Haddow ended that — and the shutout — with a bang.  Take a listen.

Game 2: The Kannapolis Intimidators jumped in front of Hickory with four runs in the second inning for a rain-shorted win, 4-1, in five innings, in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader.  In his first career start, Matt Lane worked a career-high 4 and 1/3 innings, limiting the Crawdads to one run on two hits with four strikeouts and three walks to earn the win.  JR Ballinger, who joined the Intimidators from Class A-Advanced Winston-Salem earlier in the day, retired the two batters he faced to close out the fifth inning for a save as the skies began to open up at L.P. Frans Stadium.  After Hickory took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, Kannapolis responded with four runs in the second.  Mark Haddow led off the second inning with a single up the middle, moved to second base on a Rangel Ravelo walk and scored on Leighton Pangilinan’s game-tying double.  Keenyn Walker walked to load the bases, and two batters later, Garis Pena singled to cash Ravelo and Pangilinan for a 3-1 lead.  Walker scored on a Hickory fielding error for 4-1 advantage.  Crawdads starter Nick Martinez (1-1) took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on four hits while striking out one and walking two in three innings.

Raving on Ravelo: Rangel Ravelo ranks eighth in the league with a .318 average (50-157) in 41 games this season.  His 15-game hitting streak from April 7-24 ranks as second-longest in the SAL this season (West Virginia’s Allen Hanson, 16 games).

Ross Reaches: Leadoff man Ross Wilson failed to reach base in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader, just the fourth game this season he has failed to safely get on base.  Wilson has reached base in 25 of his 29 games with the Intimidators, including reaching base safely in his first 15 games since joining the team from Winston-Salem on April 19.  His .449 on-base percentage ranks second in the SAL.

The Intimidators bullpen will get a big boost for the time being as the White Sox transferred JR Ballinger from Winston-Salem to Kannapolis today.  Ballinger takes the roster spot of Collin Kuhn who has retired.

See Ballinger’s Stats

Ballinger has spent parts of the last three seasons in Kannapolis after the White Sox drafted him in the 11th round of the 2009 draft out of the University of Southern Mississippi.  This season, he is 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA (2 ER/7.1 IP) in seven relief appearances with the Dash.  He has yet to work for a save this season in Winston-Salem and could have a chance to hold the role of closer in Kannapolis if he is here for an extended period of time.

With the Intimidators playing four games in two days, Ballinger’s return to Kannapolis comes at a time when pitching is at a premium.  The Intimidators used four relievers on Sunday, and Ballinger would certainly be capable of picking up multiple innings in piggybacking either Matt Lane or Jefferson Olacio, who are each making spot-starts in the second games of the doubleheaders.

Monday, May 21, 2012 — L.P. Frans Stadium – Game 1 First Pitch: 4:00 PM — Hickory, N.C.

Kannapolis Intimidators (16-25) at Hickory Crawdads (19-21)

Game #42 & #43

LHP Brandon Parrent (2-1, 6.34) vs. RHP Luke Jackson (2-4, 6.19)

LHP Matthew Lane (1-0, 3.27) vs. RHP Nick Martinez (1-0, 3.63)

VIEW COMPLETE GAME NOTES

Today’s Preview: The Intimidators begin an 8-game road trip with consecutive doubleheaders at Hickory.  While Kannapolis has struggled, losing three straight, it’s the Crawdads that come into today’s twin bill on a league-worst eight-game losing streak.  With 28 innings on the schedule over the next two days, the Intimidators need starting pitchers to work deeper into games to eat up innings as two relievers – Matt Lane and Jefferson Olacio – will be making spot starts today and tomorrow, respectively.  Brandon Parrent takes the mound for the first time against Hickory in Monday’s first game, and he’ll face the Crawdads’ opening day starter Luke Jackson.  Hickory has dominated the season series, 7-2, this season including sweeping a doubleheader at Kannapolis on April 7.  This week’s back-to-back doubleheaders are to make up for rain outs on April 18 and May 8.

On The Mound: Brandon Parrent, 21, makes his eighth start of the season and first against the Crawdads.  The North Texas native has worked at least five innings in his last four starts, and he is 2-0 with a 4.50 ERA (8 ER/16 IP) in May, holding opponents to a .211 average this month.  The White Sox drafted Parrent in the 30th round out of Texas A&M in June 2011.

Matt Lane, 21, takes the ball for the Intimidators in Game 2 for his first start of the season. In 11 of his 12 relief appearances this season, he has allowed one earned run or fewer, and he has 20 strikeouts to just four walks in 22 innings.  In May, Lane has a 1.74 ERA (2 ER/10.1 IP) .  The White Sox selected him in the ninth round out of Mississippi State in June 2011.

Hickory’s Luke Jackson, 20, makes his ninth start and third against Kannapolis in Game 1. The Rangers first round pick in 2010 has the fourth-highest strikeouts per nine innings ration in the league (10.16), but he is coming off four consecutive losses.  Jackson opened the year 2-0 with a 1.31 ERA (3 ER/20.2 IP) with 29 strikeouts and seven walks in four starts.  Since April 27, he is 0-4 with a 12.64 ERA (22 ER/15.2 IP) with 12 strikeouts and 15 walks.  Despite his recent struggles, Jackson still boasts a 1.69 ERA over two starts against the Intimidators.

Crawdads reliever Nick Martinez, 21, makes a spot start in Game 2.  In 11 relief appearance this season, he has struck out 31 batters and walked five in 22.1 innings.  Martinez has not faced the Intimidators since tossing two scoreless frams on April 7 with two hits, fanning three.

Last Time Out: Lexington’s Luis Cruz pitched Lexington past Kannapolis, 7-1, on Sunday. Cruz struck out seven and allowed six base runners over 7 and 2/3 innings to earn the win, giving up three hits while walking two and hitting one batter. Lexington pulled away with four runs in the ninth innings to quench any ideas of a come-back.  Euris Quezada worked the final innings and 1/3 for Lexington for the save (1).  Intimidators starter Myles Jaye (1-2) matched a career high with 5 and 2/3 innings of work in a losing effort, allowing three runs on 10 hits.  The Legends opened the scoring in the third inning when Zach Johnson grounded out to cash Chan Jong Moon.  Matt Duffy followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.  Johnson finished the game 2-for-5 with two RBI for a league-leading 46 on the season.

Schedule Crunch: The Intimidators will play eight games in six days on this road trip.

Raving on Ravelo: Rangel Ravelo ranks sixth in the league with a .327 average (50-153) in 39 games this season.  His 15-game hitting streak from April 7-24 ranks as second-longest in the SAL this season (West Virginia’s Allen Hanson, 16 games).

Ross Reaches: Leadoff man Ross Wilson went 1-1 with two walks and was hit by a pitch on Sunday to reach base safely four times, raising his on-base percentage to .465, second-best in the SAL and .002 behind Greensboro’s Brent Keys.  Wilson has reached base in 24 of his 27 games with the Intimidators, including reaching base safely in his first 15 games since joining the team from Winston-Salem on April 19.  He is tied for eighth in the league with 25 walks in just 27 games while no one ahead of him has played in fewer than 32 games.

When Walker Runs: Keenyn Walker, the White Sox top draft pick in 2011 (47th overall), stole second base Saturday night, giving him 19 stolen bases on the season.  He is tied with Charleston’s Angelo Gumbs for the second-most in the league behind Lexington’s Delino DeShields Jr. (26).

Haddow at Home: Right fielder Mark Haddow extended his home game on-base streak to 13 games on Sunday, which dates back to April 20 against Lexington.

Sunday, May 20, 2012  — CMC-NorthEast Stadium — 5:05 PM — Kannapolis, N.C.

Kannapolis Intimidators (16-24) vs. Lexington Legends (21-20)

Game #41

RHP Myles Jaye (1-1, 4.02) vs. LHP Luis Cruz (3-1, 2.95)

VIEW COMPLETE GAME NOTES

Today’s Preview: In today’s series finale, the Intimidators are playing for a series split with the Lexington Legends.  Kannapolis has lost six of seven games to Lexington at CMC-NorthEast Stadium this season.  After winning the series opener, the Intimidators have dropped two straight games.  Both of these teams have struggled away from home against one another, with Kannapolis winning three of four in Lexington earlier this season.

On The Mound: Myles Jaye makes his fourth start for Kannapolis and second at home.  He is coming off a career-high 5.2 innings of work in a loss at Greensboro on May 15.  The White Sox traded the Blue Jays for Jaye in January – along with Daniel Webb – in exchange for Jason Frasor.  He has struck out 16 batters and walked three in 15.2 innings.

Lexington’s Luis Cruz, 21, is coming off three wins in his last four start and has not allowed an earned run over his last 12.1 innings. Cruz fanned a season-high nine batters over 6.1 innings in his last start May 15 at West Virginia.  Cruz made his first start of the year against Kannapolis on April 22 and allowed six runs on 10 hits in 5.0 innings in a no decision.  Since that start, he has allowed just two earned runs over 25.1 innings over four starts.

Last Time Out: The Intimidators brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning, but Lexington held on to win, 7-5, on Saturday.  Lexington pulled away with five runs in the middle innings. Mike Foltynewicz (5-1) earned the win, allowing four runs on five hits in six innings innings with four walks. Jason Chowning closed the game allowing an unearned run over two hitless innings for the save (7). After Lexington took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, the Intimidators responded with three runs in the third.  Dusty Harvard singled up the middle to lead off, and Ross Wilson followed with a double to put the tying runs in scoring position.  Joe De Pinto doubled to center field to tie the game, and Kevan Smith grounded out to cash De Pinto for a 3-2 lead. Lexington reclaimed a 4-3 lead in the fifth inning on Zach Johnson’s two-run double, chasing Intimidators starter Kevin Vance from the game.  Jordan Scott added a two-run double of his own in the sixth off Daniel Webb to give Lexington 7-3.  Vance (2-2) struck out a career-high seven batters in a losing effort, allowing four runs on six hits in 4 and 1/3 innings.  Chris Devenski and Steven Upchurch combined to toss three scoreless innings down the stretch to keep the Intimidators in the game.

Raving on Ravelo: Despite an 0-4 night on Saturday, Rangel Ravelo ranks 8th in the SAL with a .329 average and has the fifth most hits in the league with 49.

When Walker Runs: Keenyn Walker, the White Sox top draft pick in 2011 (47th overall), stole second base Saturday night, giving him 19 stolen bases on the season.  He is tied with Charleston’s Angelo Gumbs for the second-most in the league behind Lexington’s Delino DeShields Jr. (26).

Ross Reaches: Leadoff man Ross Wilson went 1-3 with a walk on Saturday, raising his on-base percentage to .448, fourth-highest in the SAL.  Wilson has reached base in 23 of his 26 games with the Intimidators, including reaching base safely in his first 15 games since joining the team from Winston-Salem on April 19.

Two-Run Troubles: Kannapolis lost 7-5 on Saturday, falling to 2-7 (.222) in games decided by two runs, the lowest winning percentage in the league.  The Intimidators are, however, 6-4 in games decided by one run.

Haddow at Home: Right fielder Mark Haddow has reached base in 12 straight home games, dating back to April 20 against Lexington.  In those 12 games, he is batting .381 (16-42) with three doubles, a triple, a home run and seven RBI with a .447 on-base percentage.

Saturday, May 19, 2012 — CMC-NorthEast Stadium – First Pitch: 7:05 PM — Kannapolis, N.C.

Kannapolis Intimidators (16-23) vs. Lexington Legends  (20-20)

Game #40

RHP Kevin Vance (2-1, 4.02) vs. RHP Mike Foltynewicz (4-1, 1.62)

VIEW COMPLETE GAME NOTES

Today’s Preview: Having split the first two games of the series, Kannapolis and Lexington square off in the third game of the four-game set at CMC-NorthEast Stadium.  Intimidators pitchers lacked the control of Thursday night’s one-hitter by walking nine batters, throwing five wild pitches and hitting one batter in a 7-3 loss on Friday.  Today the Intimidators turn to right-hander Kevin Vance to reclaim the series lead.  Vance will duel one of the Astros top prospects and the SAL’s ERA leader Mike Foltynewicz, now in his second season with Lexington.

On The Mound: Kevin Vance, 21, makes his eighth start of the season and third against the Legends.  He is coming off his roughest start of the season, a loss at Greensboro where he allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits in 3.1 innings.  Excluding his most recent start, Vance had not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his six previous outings.  Vance went 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA (3 ER/19 IP) in four starts in April.  The White Sox drafted Vance out of UConn in the 19^th round in the 2011 draft, and he made his professional debut with the Advanced Rookie Great Falls Voyagers, helping them to the PL Championship last season.

Lexington’s Mike Foltynewicz, 20, makes his ninth start of the year and second against the Intimidators after limiting Kannapolis to one run on four hits over 6.0 innings in a win at CMC-NorthEast Stadium on April 21.  He is 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA in six road starts.  The former first round pick by Houston in the 2010 draft, Foltynewicz currently leads the SAL with a 1.62 ERA (8 ER/44.1 IP) and is tied for fourth in innings pitched.  The right-hander is 5-0 in his last seven starts, and has allowed no more than two earned runs in any start this season, including six starts of one earned run or fewer.

About Last Night: The Legends used five early runs to topple the Intimidators, 7-3, on Friday.  One night after Intimidators pitchers limited the Legends to one hit, Kannapolis matched a season-high walking nine batters and mixed in five wild pitches from the mound.  Legends reliever Carlos Quevedo (2-1) earned the win with four strong innings of relief, striking out six batters and allowing one run in the eighth inning after the Legends had built a 7-2 lead.  Intimidators starter Scott Snodgress (1-2) took the loss, giving up five runs on six hits in four innings, matching season highs with six strikeouts and four walks.  Lexington jumped in front with three runs in the third inning on a John Hinson RBI-double which was later followed by Brandon Meredith’s two-run single.  Meredith finished the game 4-for-5 while Hinson went 2-for-6 with a pair of doubles and three RBI.

For the second straight game, Kannapolis struck first.  Ross Wilson drew a leadoff walk in the first inning, and Kevan Smith singled him over to second.  After Mark Haddow reached on a fielders choice, Rangel Ravelo doubled off the right field wall, scoring Wilson as well as Haddow from first base, for an early 2-0 lead. Lexington had a chance to answer in the top of the second, but with one out and men in scoring position, Haddow caught a fly ball in right field and fired a strike to catcher Kevan Smith who applied a tag to end the inning and the scoring threat.

Raving on Ravelo: Third baseman Rangel Ravelo smacked three doubles in Friday’s 7-3 loss to Lexington, the most by an Intimidator this season.  With a 3-for-4 night, Ravelo raised his average to .338, tied for fourth in the SAL.  His 49 hits rank fifth in the league.  After seeing his average dip to .299 following an 0-3 night at Greensboro on May 15, he has put together a three-game streak of multi-hit games, going 9-11 (.818) in that span.

When Walker Runs: Keenyn Walker, the White Sox top draft pick in 2011 (47th overall), stole two bases on Friday night, including a steal of third base.  Walker has stolen 18 bases on the season, tied for third-most in the SAL.  He has stolen third base four times this season.

Ross Walks Twice: Leadoff man Ross Wilson drew two walks on Friday and went 1-3 with a single, upping his on-base percentage to .442, fourth-highest in the SAL.  Wilson has reached base in 22 of his 25 games with the Intimidators, including reaching base safely in his first 15 games with Kannapolis since joining the team from Wiston-Salem on April 19.

Wild Thing: Intimidators pitchers combined to throw five wild pitches on Friday night, the most by a team in the SAL this season.  Starter Scott Snodgress threw three wild pitches, and relievers Jefferson Olacio and Jarrett Casey each had one.  Kannapolis matched a season high with nine walks issued in the outing.

KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS (16-22) vs. Lexington Legends (19-20)

Friday, May 18, 2012 — 7:05 p.m. — CMC-NorthEast Stadium

LHP Scott Snodgress (1-1, 4.29) vs. RHP Luis Ordosgoitti (0-1, 10.57)

VIEW COMPLETE GAME NOTES

Today’s Preview: One day after one-hitting the Lexington Legends, Kannapolis has started this series off on the right foot and look to continue that with another left-hander as Scott Snodgress takes the ball today.  Kannapolis was just 1-10 in series openers before yesterday’s 5-0 shutout win of Lexington.  The Intimidators are playing to avenge a series sweep at the hands of the Legends at CMC-NorthEast Stadium in April.  Lexington leads the season-series, 5-4.

On The Mound: Scott Snodgress, 22, is coming off an ERA-rising outing against Delmarva, allowing five runs (four earned) in 4.1 innings on May 13.  The Stanford University product makes his eighth start and third versus Lexington this season. In his two previous starts against the Legends, Snodgress is 0-0 with a 2.25 ERA (3 ER/12 IP) while holding the Legends to a .182 average (8-44).  The left-hander is limiting opposing right-handed hitters to a .216 average.  The White Sox drafted Snodgress in the fifth round of the 2011 draft.

Lexington’s Luis Ordosgoitti, 19, makes his third start of the season after joining the Legends from Extended Spring on May 2.  He as struck out 11 batters while walking one in 7.2 innings so far this season.  He pitched at three levels last season – GCL Astros, Greeneville (APPY) and Tri-City (NYP) – combining to go 2-5 with a 4.58 ERA in 12 games (10 starts).  The Astros signed Ordosgoitti as a non-drafted free agent in October 2009.

Last Time Out: Blair Walters took a no hitter into the sixth inning, and the Intimidators scored five early runs as Kannapolis 1-hit the Legends in a 5-0 win on Thursday.  Walters (2-2) struck out nine batters while walking none over seven scoreless innings to earn the win.  After plunking the first batter of the second inning, Walters retired 14 straight Legends until Delino DeShields Jr singled with two outs in the sixth inning.  Bryan Blough tossed a pair of hitless innings to finish the game for Kannapolis.  Kannapolis struck in the home half of the second inning on back-to-back doubles by Rangel Ravelo and Leighton Pangilinan for a 1-0 lead.  The Intimidators pulled away with four more runs in the third inning. Garis Pena led off the bottom of the third with a single.  Two batters later, four straight Intimidators singled as Grant Buckner, Kevan Smith, Mark Haddow and Ravelo beat up Lexington starter Nick Tropeano (2-3), who took the loss allowing five runs on 10 hits in six innings.  Tropeano struck out eight with no walks.

Scheduling Crunch: The Intimidators are in a stretch of playing 19 games in 17 days, including three double-headers next week (May 21, May 22 and May 25).  The twin bills at Hickory on May 21-22 are to make up for previous rain outs.

Walters Does Work: Blair Walters retired 21 of the 23 batters faced in Thursday’s 5-0 win, a one-hitter of Lexington.  Walters and reliever Bryan Blough combined to allow one hit, the fewest allowed by Intimidators pitchers since Matt Wickswat, Jake Petricka and Taylor Thompson combined to no-hit the Hickory Crawdads on August 20, 2010.

Raving on Ravelo: Intimidators third baseman Rangel Ravelo put together his first four-hit game of the season on Thursday, going 4-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored to help lead the Intimidators offense.  Ravelo is now batting .326, ranked 10th in the SAL.  His 46 hits are tied for fifth most in the league.

Quick Win: Thursday’s 5-0 win took just 2:04, the fastest Intimidators game this season, just edging an April 11 win over Delmarva that took 2:05.

Tackling Tropeano: Kannapolis beat up Lexington’s Nick Tropeano on Thursday to the tune of five runs on 10 hits in 6.0 innings, the first runs the Intimidators have scored against the Legends hurler this season.  Tropeano worked 14 scoreless innings against Kannapolis until yesterday’s start.  He did manage to strike out eight Intimidators, and he is now tied for the league lead with 55 strikeouts.

Kannapolis Intimidators (15-22)  vs. Lexington Legends  (19-19)

Thursday, May 17, 2012  –  CMC-NorthEast Stadium – First Pitch: 7:05 PM

Game #38

LHP Blair Walters (1-2, 3.38) vs. RHP Nick Tropeano (2-2, 2.23)

VIEW COMPLETE GAME NOTES

Today’s Preview: The Kannapolis Intimidators return home having lost four straight to close out a 2-5 road trip to Delmarva and Greensboro.  Kannapolis looks to enact a measure of revenge against the Legends after Lexington swept the Intimidators the last time they came to CMC-NorthEast Stadium.  Kannapolis again faces Nick Tropeano, one of the SAL’s ERA leaders, who has struck out 17 Intimidators batters over two starts against Kannapolis.  The Intimidators are countering with staff ace Blair Walters.  This is the final series between these two teams at CMC-NorthEast Stadium this season and the final series between the two squads in the first half.  Kannapolis is now 12.5 games out of first place in the SAL Northern Division after a sweep at the hands of first place Greensboro.  Lexington is coming off back-to-back wins and is 6.5 games out of first in the Southern Division.

Scheduling Crunch: The Intimidators are in a stretch of playing 19 games in 17 days, including three double-headers next week (May 21, May 22 and May 25).  The twin bills at Hickory on May 21-22 are to make up for previous rain outs.

On The Mound: Blair Walters, 22, takes the ball for his eighth start of the season.  He is holding opposing left-handed batters to a .216 average (8-37) while limiting opposing hitters to a .224 clip overall.  Walters is coming off his first win of the season, a 6.0 inning outing at Delmarva in which he gave up one run while scattering seven hits.  The University of Hawaii product has not walked a batter in his last two starts, spanning 11.1 innings.  In one start against Lexington, he is 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA (4 ER/5 IP).  Walters is the reigning Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year after leading the PL in wins going 9-0 to lead the Great Falls Voyagers to the PL Championship in 2011.

Lexington’s Nick Tropeano, 21, makes his third start against the Intimidators and seventh of the season on Thursday.  He ranks eighth in the SAL with a 2.23 ERA, is tied for fourth with 47 strikeouts, is fourth in the league in WHIP (0.97) and fifth in opponent batting average (.193).  In two starts against the Intimidators, Tropeano is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/14 IP) with 17 strikeouts and four walks.

Last Time Out: The Intimidators were swept in Greensboro with a crushing 10-8 loss in 11 innings on Wednesday afternoon.  Kannapolis scored two runs in the top of the ninth to take an 8-7 lead, but the Grasshoppers tied the game in the bottom of the ninth.  Ryan Rieger hit a two-run walk-off home run against Chris Devenski in the 11^th inning to end the game.

Ross Reaches Base: Ross Wilson went 1-5 with a walk on Wednesday and has reached base safely in 21 of the 23 games he has played with the Intimidators, including reaching base safely in each of his first 15 games with Kannapolis.  Wilson currently leads Kannapolis and ranks fifth in the SAL with a .455 on-base percentage.

Not Enough Runs?: The Intimidators lost for the first time this season when scoring at least seven runs in a game, falling 10-8 to Greensboro in 11 innings on Wednesday.  The Intimidators were 8-0 when scoring at least seven runs.

Allowing A Hit Parade: Kannapolis gave up 47 hits over the last three games in Greensboro as well as 29 runs.  The Intimidators surrendered a season-high 18 hits in Wednesday’s 10-8 loss to the Grasshoppers.

Longing for the Long Ball: Kannapolis has hit 14 home runs this season, tied for the second fewest in the SAL with Augusta (Delmarva, 13).  Kannapolis has scored the 4th-fewest runs, 171, this season.  The league average is 183.

KANNAPOLIS INTIMIDATORS (15-19) at GREENSBORO GRASSHOPPERS (25-10)

Monday, May 14, 2012 — 7:00 p.m. — NewBridge Bank Park

RHP Kevin Vance (2-0, 2.25) vs. RHP Austin Brice (2-1, 5.68)

VIEW COMPLETE GAME NOTES

Today’s Preview: The Intimidators visit NewBridge Bank Park for the first time this season as Kannapolis faces the first place Greensboro Grasshoppers in a three-game series. While the Intimidators did go 8-7 against the Grasshoppers last season, Greensboro came to Kannapolis in the final series of the regular season and took four of five games to edge past the Intimidators for the SAL Northern Division 2nd Half Championship.  Greensboro went on to win the SAL Championship in 2011. The Intimidators are in the midst of a seven-game road trip and coming off a series split in Delmarva.  Kannapolis/Piedmont leads the all-time series against the Greenbsoro franchise, 124-111.

Roster Move: Infielder Joe De Pinto returns to Kannapolis from Extended Spring Training.  De Pinto, who walks to the plate to Mark Morrison’s “Return of the Mack,” began the season with the Intimidators, and the White Sox transferred him to Arizona on April 16.  The former USC Trojan was drafted in the 21^st round last summer, and he hit .214 (6-28) with two RBI in nine games with the Intimidators to begin the season.  In a corresponding move, infielder David Herbek was placed on the Disabled List.

Winston-Salem Starships: This weekend the Winston-Salem Dash, the Class A-Advanced Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, took a road trip to Lynchburg.  Along the way, this happened >> Starships Baseball Team

On The Mound: Kevin Vance, 21, makes his seventh start of the season and first against the Greensboro Grasshoppers.  The former UConn product is coming off a win over Hickory on May 7.  Vance, the White Sox 19th round pick in the 2011 draft, has not allowed more than two earned runs in any start this season.  In two road starts this season, Vance is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 ER/12.0 IP) with 10 strikeouts and two walks.  Opponents are batting .146 against him in his road starts this year and just .214 against him overall.

Greensboro’s Austin Brice, who turns 20 next month, is coming off a 4.0 inning save against West Virginia on May 8.  Brice will make his fourth start of the season and seventh appearance overall today.  The Pittsboro, NC, native leads the SAL with 22 walks this season compared to 27 strikeouts in 25.1 innings of work.  In each of his previous three starts, he has walked four batters over an average of 4.1 innings.  In his most recent start, Brice tossed five scoreless innings of 1-hit baseball for a win over Hickory.

Kiss It Goodbye: Keenyn Walker, the White Sox top pick in the 2011 draft (47th overall), hit his first career home run, a solo shot, as the Intimidators edged the Shorebirds, 2-1, on Saturday night.  Walker drove in both runs for Kannapolis in the win.

Ross Reaches Base: Ross Wilson went 1-6 on Sunday and has now reached base safely in 19 of the 20 games he has played with the Intimidators, including reaching base safely in each of his first 15 games with Kannapolis.  Wilson had been leading the SAL in on-base percentage until Sunday, but his .458 on-base percentage is now tied for second in the league.

One Run Record: Kannapolis fell to Delmarva 6-5 in 11 innings on Sunday.  The Intimidators are now 6-4 in 1-run games and 1-3 in extra innings games.

Last Time Out: Jason Esposito hit a grounder through the left side of the infield in the eleventh inning to lift the Shorebirds past Kannapolis, 6-5, in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.  Matt Taylor and Jesse Beal combined to hold Kannapolis to just one unearned run over the final 5.2 innings. Kannapolis scored three runs in the first against Shorebirds starter Miguel Chalas.  Rangel Ravelo hit a two-run double to left and Mark Haddow singled to give the Intimidators a 3-0 lead. Down 4-0 in the fifth, the Shorebirds took their first lead by scoring five runs.  Nicky Delmonico capped the scoring with a two-run single through the right side of the infield.  Sammie Starr and Glynn Davis also had run-scoring hits in the inning. The Intimidators tied the game at five in the seventh.  With Grant Buckner at second, Kevan Smith hit a grounder to third that went below the glove of Esposito and into left field, allowing Buckner to score.  In the bottom of the eleventh, Davis blistered a single into center field to ignite the Shorebirds.  Then, John Ruettiger drew a four-pitch walk to advance Davis to second.  Esposito followed with a single into left field to score Davis and give the Shorebirds a 6-5 win. Jesse Beal earned the win by tossing two scoreless innings.  Matt Taylor struck out seven batters over 3.2 innings and allowed just one hit.