Four-run First Paces ‘Stormers

Peeples Notches First Win as Skipper

The Lancaster Barnstormers erupted for four runs in the top of the first inning and breezed to a 5-1 victory over the New Britain Bees on Wednesday evening, earning new manager Ross Peeples his first win.

Trayvon Robinson greeted Anthony Marzi (0-1) with a solid single into left, and Caleb Gindl walked.  K.C. Hobson was retired on a fly ball to center for the first out, but Sean Halton produced a run with a double deep into the left field corner.  Blake Gailen singled to left to score Gindl with a second marker.  The lead was extended to 3-0 on a Lastings Milledge double blasted off the left field wall, and Garrett Weber capped the scoring with a groundout to shortstop.

Brad Bergesen (1-0) carried the lead through six innings for the Barnstormers.  The former Oriole found trouble in the first with a leadoff walk to James Skelton and a one-out single by Jovan Rosa.  He escaped when Craig Maddox grounded into a double play, the first of three turned by the Lancaster defense on the night.

The right-hander was finally nicked in the sixth.  With one out, Skelton picked up his second walk of the night and scampered to second on a steal.  A passed ball sent Skelton to third, and he scored when Steve Carrillo dumped a one-out single into shallow right center.

 Lancaster tacked on an insurance marker in the eighth on doubles by Hobson and Gailen, who each recorded three hits on the night.  The Barnstormers missed out on additional chances to score, leaving five runners on base over the final two innings.

Kaohi Downing, Cody Hall, and Anthony Carter each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Barnstormers.

Lancaster and New Britain will play a split doubleheader on Thursday with the first game at 10:35 AM and the second at 6:35 PM.  Lefties Jarret Leverett and Nate Reed will start the twinbill for Lancaster with right-handers Eric Fornataro and Casey Coleman going for New Britain.  Fans may tune into the Barnstormers YouTube Channel, beginning at 10:15 in the morning.

NOTES:  Hobson has hit safely in his last four games and tops the club with six hits…The Barnstormers came one shy of the franchise record of seven doubles in the game…The bullpen has allowed only two earned runs in 14 2/3 innings.