Comeback Magic Headlines Showdown Along the Coast

Jack Amyette Park in Jacksonville, N.C., played host to a coastal divisional clash between the Jacksonville Ospreys and Hope Mills Rockfish last Monday, June 23rd. The two teams entered the competition on opposite sides of the standings, with the hosts at the top of the division and the visitors at the bottom. Both, however, were looking to end their respective losing streaks and generate some momentum going into the All-Star break. 

Brodie Keener, a left-handed pitcher, started on the bump for the Ospreys while veteran Dawson Wiggins toed the rubber for the Rockfish. 

The Ospreys didn’t waste any time in the bottom of the first, a Joshua Martinez single followed up by an Andres Cortes set up Ellis Windheim to bring Martinez across the plate on a groundout. The visitors did not back down, returning the favor in the next frame. Two straight walks to begin the inning, followed by a hit by pitch, left the bases loaded with only one out. Derrick Hall delivered the decisive hit with a hard-hit ground ball that split the infielders to score two runs and give the Rockfish an early lead. 

The Ospreys knotted the score up just two innings later after Cortes doubled to the right field gap, scoring Brandon Bannerma, who reached base on a lead-off single. It was then the visitors' turn again to put some runs on the board. A passed ball allowed two baserunners to advance to 2nd and 3rd, Liam McNierney gave the lead back to the visitors, scoring both on another infield-splitting line drive. The offensive effort continued with Brady Durden dealing another blow with a double, scoring McNierney, giving the Rockfish a 5-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth frame. 

A solo home run courtesy of Stephen Kriner extended the Hope Mills lead. The Ospreys cut the deficit in the following frame, a lead-off error, two walks, and a fielder's choice groundball scored the third run of the game for the home team. The scoring stalled for the next couple of innings as both teams’ pitching and fielding seemed to find their footing. 

Hope Mills was not done on the offensive side, with the first two hitters reaching base, a McNierney single scored one, while a Brady Durden pop-fly that was unsuccessfully caught scored another to give the Rockfish a five-run lead with just six outs left. Six straight outs led to the Ospreys coming up to bat in the bottom of the 9th, needing a miracle. 

A miracle was granted. Bannerman led off the inning with a double, and Austin Carter followed that up with a single to put two baserunners on with zero outs. Martinez scored the first through a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to four. Two straight walks loaded the bases. Another walk scored Cortes, a hit by a pitch scored another, and now the differential was only two runs. Michael Ciavolella ripped a ground ball to the third baseman, which could not be handled, making it a one-run game with only one out and the bases still loaded. Pinch hitter Mason Meyer walked to tie the game at 8-8. A fielder’s choice at home kept the bases loaded, but now the visitors only needed one more out to force extra innings. 

Bannerman stepped up to the plate with the opportunity to walk it off. A first pitch strike, followed by a ball, and a second strike led to an intense ending. The sixth pitch of the at-bat got away from the catcher, with Ciavollla able to cross the plate to give the Ospreys a nine-inning six-run comeback to walk it off.

What’s Next

Old North State League baseball continues throughout July. The 24 teams will continue to battle for postseason qualification as the back half of the season begins.