Weevils shut out Bats

BY RONNIE GALLAGHER
SALISBURY POST

Which means the Piedmont Boll Weevils are closing in on a first half championship in the Northern Division of the South Atlantic League.

Piedmont’s dominating 7-0 victory over the Greensboro Bats Sunday brought the Weevils magic number (which combines Piedmont wins with losses by second place Hickory) for clinching to nine.

But there was more magic than just in the numbers Sunday afternoon.

There was magic in Shomari Beverly’s legs and Jorge Padilla’s arm. There was magic in Marlon Byrd’s bat and Tom Batson’s glove.

And then, there was the magic on the mound, courtesy of left-hander Frankie Brooks, who stifled the hottest team in the SAL over the last two weeks. Greensboro came in winners of five of six and eight of its last 11. But the Bats’ bats turned to mush against Brooks’ curveball, managing just four hits.

It was a total team effort that halted a two-game losing streak for the 37-20 Weevils.

“It was one of our better games of the year,” said an upbeat Greg Legg, who was thoroughly impressed with his adding, “We did everything well.”

But it all started with Brooks, who has gone from starter, to the bullpen to starter again. Only one Bat reached third base and only two got past first. It was Brooks’ second straight key performance. He won the opener of the Hickory series in his last start.

“Frankie’s pitched two great games for us,” said Legg. “He did the same thing for me last year at Batavia. He clutches up when we need him.”

All Brooks needed was some early runs and Byrd gave him one in the first on a long home run over the center-field fence. It was Byrd’s 10th.

Padilla led off the second with a stand-up triple and scored on Eric Schreimann’s sacrifice fly. Beverly’s sacrifice fly scored Schreimann in the fifth.

The 3-0 lead stood up during Greensboro’s only threat against Brooks in the sixth. With runners on second and third, Jeff Nettles lifted a fly to Padilla. The 21-year old threw a perfect strike to Russ Jacobson, forcing Mike Vento to hold at third.

Then, Andy Brown sent a long drive toward Beverly in center that looked like a bases-clearing clout.

Not with Beverly’s wheels. He ran it down, stretched out and made a spectacular catch to end the inning.

“I kept running and hoped good things would happen,” Beverly shrugged.

“The outfielders got me out of a jam,” whewed Brooks. “They respect that Padilla has a great arm and Shomari flagged one down that I thought was definitely a gapper.

“But everybody played good defense. Everything was clicking today.”

In the bottom of the sixth, Padilla slipped a single through a drawn-in infield scoring Byrd and capping one of his best efforts.

“Jorge has made a lot of strides,” said Legg. “He’s playing well in right field and his at-bats are getting better. He has matured.”

Batson, who made several sparkling plays at third, sent a two-run homer over the fence in the seventh and Beverly had the team’s third sacrifice fly in the eighth.

Brooks said he felt no pressure in stopping the Weevils’ two-game losing streak.

“It wasn’t on my mind,” he said. “My best friend from Brooklyn was here and it was the first time he has seen me pitch. So I just wanted to enjoy myself and pitch a great game.”

Which he did.

“We don’t like losing,” he continued. “We’re used to winning. And we want to show everybody we’re the best team in the league.”

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NOTES: Greensboro fell to 31-27. ... Hickory defeated Asheville 6-5 Sunday and remained 41