From Staff Reports

KANNAPOLIS — The home opener of the Kannapolis Intimidators’ 2015 season had to be delayed a day. A day of soft, steady rain prevented the Intimidators (3-4) from taking the field against the Hickory Crawdads.

The teams, instead, will play two seven-inning games on Friday at CMC-NorthEast Stadium. The first game starts at 5:05 p.m., and the second gets under way shortly after the conclusion of the first. Friday’s doubleheader against Hickory is the start of a seven-game homestand for Kannapolis.

The delay is most likely welcome. Kannapolis split a doubleheader against the Delmarva Shorebirds — losing the first game 4-2 and winning the second 8-0 — on Wednesday and boarded a bus for the long ride back to North Carolina.

Jordan Guerrero was the winning pitcher in that shutout victory against the Shorebirds. He struck out 11 and allowed only two hits in six scoreless innings on the mound to earn his first victory of the season.

It was the second time this season the 20-year-old from California held the opposing team scoreless. Guerrero was the Intimidator’s opening day starter in their loss at Lakewood, although he did not get the decision in the 2-1 setback. That night he went six innings, struck out six batters, allowed only two hits, and issued one walk.

Mason Robbins is off to a great start at the plate. The left-handed left fielder sat for the April 9 season opener, but he’s leading the team in batting with a .440 average. In three games at Lakewood, Robbins had two three-hit games and one two-hit game. He has one home run and only two strikeouts.

Chris Curley is swinging the bat well so far. Curley has four doubles, a home run and a team-high five RBIs through seven games. The third baseman is currently batting .310.