Coyotes club Muddogs 19-4 in Old North State League season-opener

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RAMSEUR — While a trio of Carolina hurlers held Deep River to only two hits, the Coyotes exploded for six runs in the top of the first and pounded five Muddogs’ pitchers for 13 hits in frolicking to a seven-inning, run-rule 19-5 triumph in The Old North State League season-opener for both teams Saturday evening at I. Fletcher Craven Stadium.

Pres Ostert started on the mound for Carolina and went three-plus innings, giving up one earned run on no hits in addition to walking six and fanning three, before Jackson Clark came on in relief and tossed three innings to receive credit for the win while allowing both Deep River hits and four runs (two earned) besides issuing one free pass and whiffing two.

Southpaw Caleb Staley pitched the final frame for the winners and struck out the side.

Left-hander Cade Culberson opened on the hill for the Muddogs and lasted just one-third of an inning, taking the loss after yielding one hit and five earned runs while walking four and striking out one.

Four Deep River relievers (Nathan Cockman, Isaiah Ortega, Warren Gay and Austin Johnson) who followed Culberson to the mound surrendered a collective 12 hits and 14 runs (10 earned) while issuing half a dozen walks and fanning seven.

The Coyotes wasted no time seizing control their first turn at bat as they loaded the bases with one away on walks to Jordan Blalock, Tyler Dodson and Chase Hetzel.

Tyler Myers followed with a two-run single to center, and after Cameron Wells drew a free pass to refill the sacks, Kevin Greenwood stroked a double to the left field fence to drive in Hetzel and Myers.

One out later Darden Eure’s infield single plated Wells before Blalock brought in Greenwood with a single to left.

Greenwood’s leadoff home run over the left field fence on an 0-1 offering from Cockman in the top of the third put Carolina up 7-0 prior to the Muddogs scratching a run in the bottom half of the inning as Parker Clayton reached on a two-out fielder’s choice and came around to score on consecutive walks issued to Jordan Cassell, Jamey May and Rafy Ortega.

The Coyotes answered with three runs in the visitors’ fourth to increased their advantage to 10-1 as Vinny Consolo was hit by a pitch with one away and Hetzel coaxed a walk before Myers slammed a two-run double up the alley in left-center and advanced to third on Wells’ infield hit prior to scoring when Cort Maynard reached on a fielder’s choice.

Deep River narrowed the gap to 10-2 in the home fifth as Clayton and Cassell were both nicked by a pitch leading off the frame before the former came in to score on Zach Olinski’s two-out opposite-field single to left.

Carolina pushed across a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to forge ahead 12-2 as Hetzel and Myers led off the inning with back-to-back base hits prior to Wells receiving a full-count free pass to load the sacks with no outs.

After Greenwood brought in Hetzel with a sacrifice fly to right, Myers raced home one out later when Eure reached on an infield muff.

The Muddogs came right back with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to pull within seven as leadoff batter Noah Handy sped all the way to second on a throwing error and scored when Clay Richardson drilled a double down the left field line.

Following a walk to Clayton, Richardson came around to score on consecutive wild pitches before May brought in Clayton with a groundout.

The Coyotes then proceeded to turn the contest into a runaway by tallying seven runs in the visitors’ seventh.

Back-to-back leadoff walks to Consolo and Hetzel followed by Myers’ infield hit filled the bases with no outs prior to Wells forcing home Consolo when he was plunked by a pitch.

After Greenwood’s infield single drove in Hetzel, Myers came in to score as Maynard reached on an infield miscue before Wells sprinted home on a passed ball.

Eure then plated Greenwood with an opposite-field base hit to left, and following a throwing error that allowed Maynard to come home, Austin Gilley closed out the scoring by bringing in Eure with a groundout.

Leading hitters for Carolina included Myers, who was four-for-four at the plate with four RBIs and four runs scored, while Greenwood was three-for-four at bat, with five RBIs and three runs scored.