This page is dedicated to providing you information about the Statesville Owls. Here you will find news about the organization, the players and events sponsored by the Owls.
By Statesville Owls | August 30, 2010 at 08:10 AM EDT | No Comments
Huntersville, NC (August 30, 2010) – After winning the Southern Collegiate Baseball League championship this summer, the Lake Norman Copperheads garnered more postseason honors this week as the league announced its most valuable player and pitcher.
In a statement from SCBL Commissioner Bill Capps, the has league selected Copperheads outfielder Tyler Horan (Middleboro, MA) as its MVP and Copperheads left-handed pitcher Will Helms (Charlotte, NC) as the summer’s most valuable pitcher. Lake Norman finished 25-16 (14-6 in divisional play), defeating the Asheville Redbirds in the league’s first championship series under the new divisional playoff format.
Horan, a rising sophomore at Virginia Tech, led the team with a .360 batting average while driving in 27 runs and slugging .436 with eight doubles, a triple and two home runs. He also finished a perfect 16-16 in stolen base attempts. He drove in two runs in Game 1 of the championship series and went 2-4 at the plate in Game 3.
Helms starts his junior campaign at Appalachian State after a 5-0 summer record, sporting a 2.44 ERA in 11 appearances. He held opposing hitters to .236 at the plate while striking out 38 and allowing just eight walks in 51 2-3 innings. He worked 5 2-3 innings at Asheville in Game 2 of the league championship, allowing just four hits and no earned runs.
In addition to Statesville Owls utility man Andrew Rash (Anderson, SC), both Horan and Helms earned spots on the National Alliance of Collegiate Summer Baseball (NACSB) All-Star Team. Officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball, the NACSB comprises eight summer collegiate leagues in the eastern U.S., including the nationally reputed Cape Cod League.
Rash, who will play alongside Horan as a redshirt-sophomore at Virginia Tech next spring, finished at .387 with a team-best 27 RBI’s. He crushed eight doubles and three homers on his way to slugging .570, and he won the SCBL Home Run Derby July 14 in Spartanburg, SC.
Established in 1999, SCBL adopted two divisions of four teams and the new divisional playoff format this season after adding its eighth team, the Statesville Owls.
In a late-season turnaround, the Spartanburg Blue Eagles claimed the top seed in the West Division playoff but were upset by the No. 4 Carolina Chaos in Round 1. Meanwhile, the No. 3 Asheville Redbirds took out a struggling Tennessee Tornado team unable to defend its back-to-back league titles, and then followed with a win over Carolina to claim the West Division title.
Asheville Redbirds – Carolina Chaos – Carolina Stingers – Lake Norman Copperheads Morganton Aggies – Spartanburg Blue Eagles – Statesville Owls – Tennessee Tornado www.scbl.org
Lake Norman, on the other hand, ran away with the top seed, and eventually the title, in the East Division as they defeated the No. 4 Carolina Stingers in Round 1. The No. 3 Morganton Aggies bested the No. 2 Statesville Owls, only to fall to Lake Norman in the division championship. Ultimately, the Copperheads kept running through a back-and-forth championship series with Asheville to claim the Jeffers Cup – the league trophy named for two of the league’s founders, Marilyn and the late Lynn Jeffers – at their home field July 24.
By Statesville Owls | July 22, 2010 at 11:22 AM EDT | No Comments
With our inaugural season behind us there is so much to be thankful for and so many to thank.
To our fans; Thank You!!!You have made the Statesville Owls and Statesville the envy of the league.Our players are returning to their college teams with tremendous memories and stories about the incredible summer they spent in Statesville.The way you embraced the team and supported them through thick and thin is a testament to the people of Statesville and words cannot describe the attachment our players have with each and every one of you.
To the City of Statesville, Mayor Kutteh and Principle Rogers; Thank You!!!Your support and community spirit was inspirational, proving without a doubt that our decision to select Statesville as our home was the right one.
To our host families; Tracey and Scott Byers, Shelda and Eddie Liles, Malinda and Bill Sherrill, Alaina and John Sherrill, Shelley and Brian Arthur, Frankie and Don Lunsford, Pam and Bob Klouse and Mindy and Todd Colburn.Thank You!!! Opening your homes up and treating these young men like family while allowing them to follow their dreams proves that the spirit of giving, a feeling so desperately needed in this country is alive and well in Statesville. These families should be a guiding light to all for their acts of kindness.
To the Statesville Record & Landmark and WSIC (The Official Voce of the Statesville Owls); Thank You!!!You are the combined voice of the community and without your support our success would not have been possible.
To our sponsors; Alarm South, Classic Nissan of Statesville, David Seeds, Badger Sports, Courtyard by Marriott, Groucho’s Deli, Outback Steakhouse, Christian Tours, Red Robin, Honda Cars of Hickory, Gaston Rehab Associates and Carolina Baseball Center.Thank You!!! Your contributions made it possible for kids to attend our baseball camps giving them an opportunity to learn the fundamentals of baseball and how through sport there are opportunities in life that may be realized by hard work and choosing the right path.
And to the former Statesville Owls; Paul Brendle, Squirrel Thomas, Jerry Fox, Bobby Stephenson and of course Herm Starrette, former MLB pitching coach and long time supporter of baseball in Statesville.Thank You!!! You have been the caretakers of the spirit of baseball for Statesville and we hope that the Statesville Owls of today will be able to carry on your tradition of fair play, winning and a sense of community.
Statesville you have made us feel like family and we thank all of you for making the Owls part of your life.Until next year…GO OWLS!!!!!!!
Summer baseball has ended in Statesville, but not for good.
In its first year in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, the Statesville Owls quickly became one of the league's top stories.
The Owls (22-18) were an exciting team that won ballgames late and packed the field at Statesville High School.
Although the season ended with Monday's 6-4 loss to Morganton in the opening round of the SCBL playoffs, Owls management is already thinking about next season.
"We were overwhelmed with joy this year," general manager Hugh McBride said. "It turned out a lot better than we ever dreamed, the way the town and fans accepted us and came out to support us. We'll start getting things together for next season, starting in August."
In that regard, the Owls are not quite so disadvantaged. Statesville was not awarded a club until late October 2009. It didn't get its first official player until December, while rosters for the seven other SCBL teams were closed to being filled.
"When those college players report back, we will start having coaches contact us," McBride said. "We should be able to start getting players as early as next month."
The Owls roster underwent a few makeovers throughout the 2010 season, and there will likely be some shakeup for the 2011 team.
With several wooden-bat leagues available, there's always the chance that college coaches direct their players to different areas of the state or region.
"Every kid on the team this year, every single kid, has been invited back," McBride said. "Hopefully some of those kids will turn us down because they have a chance to go up into the Cape Cod League in New England or some other high-level league.
"Based off what some of the kids have said, we fully expect that at least 50 percent will be back with us."
The Owls will also go after what McBride called the "low hanging fruit."
There won't be many major changes for the 2011 season, simply because the 2010 season was so successful.
McBride said he wants to make things more fan friendly and is looking into adding some seating.
He will also post the distance from home plate on the outfield fence and will consider buying a new PA system, which in turn can be used by Statesville High School during the school year.
All that is geared toward satisfying the fan base, and drawing in new folks.
The Owls easily led the league in attendance this year, averaging around 350 paid fans per game. They had more than 500 at the opener, and more than 800 for the July 4 celebration.
"It was a fun year," said pitcher Brennan Daniels. "I enjoyed playing with everybody. Obviously, I wish we could have gone further in the playoffs, but it was a good season."
Once again, the Statesville Owls rallied during the late stages of a baseball game.
This time, though, the Owls ran out of magic.
Morganton scored four runs on just one hit in the sixth inning and held on to beat Statesville 6-4 in Monday's opening round of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League playoffs and eliminate the Owls from the postseason.
Seeded second in the East Division, the Owls (21-18) found ways to win ballgames late all season before coming up short Monday.
It was a tough-to-swallow sixth inning that did the Owls in.
With Statesville up 3-0 after five, Morganton's David Christy led off the sixth with a walk. He advanced to second when Ryan Bostian reached on an error.
Keith Whitman then walked to load the bases, and Joe Mangum sent a slow chopper down the third base line. A Statesville throwing error allowed two runs to score. Joe Mangum then drove in a run with a single, and Jordan Sells added an RBI despite hitting into a double play.
Joey Frabasile and Kyle Brandenburg each had two of Statesville's six total hits. Kyle Mastroianni and Andrew Rash also had hits.
The Owls scored three runs on three hits in the first five innings.
Statesville native Brennan Daniels got the start and picked up a no-decision. He lasted 4 2-3 innings, giving up three hits and no runs. It was a particularly strong outing for Daniels, especially when you consider he tossed 48 pitches in the first two innings and didn't give up a run.
James Kimsey took the loss after giving up four runs (one earned) and striking out five in just over three innings of work.
By Statesville Owls | July 19, 2010 at 10:27 AM EDT | No Comments
Staff reports
Published: July 18, 2010
Statesville will host the first round of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League playoffs tonight.
The Owls (21-17) earned the No. 2 seed from the SCBL's East Division and will host No. 3 seed Morganton (24-17) at 7 p.m. at Statesville High School.
The Owls won the season series over Morganton, but the two teams had plenty of close games.
The winner of tonight's game advances to the finals of the East Division playoffs against the winner of Monday's other playoff game, No. 1 Lake Norman (21-15) vs. No. 4 Fort Mill (18-17).
The lowest seeded team will host the East Division championship game, and the winner of that contest advances to the League Championship series against the West Division champ.
The Owls played well late in the season to maintain its tenuous grip on second place and were rewarded with a first-round home game.
By Statesville Owls | July 16, 2010 at 07:31 PM EDT | No Comments
From staff reports
Published: July 15, 2010
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Andrew Rash made the most of his selection as a Southern Collegiate Baseball League All-Star on Wednesday.
A member of the Statesville Owls, Rash won the Home Run Derby in the afternoon before helping lead the East all stars to a 4-2 victory over the West at Wofford College's Russell C. King Field later in the evening.
The league's top 16 sluggers competed in the long ball showcase, with two representatives from each division's four teams.
Six of those players, including Rash, advanced to the second round, led by the Carolina Chaos' Kyle Bowers, who hit two balls over the fence in the opening frame.
Bowers went homerless in the second round and was eliminated. Lake Norman Copperheads' Tyler Horan belted two homers before Rash (Virginia Tech) launched three out of the park for the come-from-behind victory. He finished with four.
Rash has three regular-season home runs, eight doubles and an SCBL-best 26 RBIs.
The East tagged West starting pitcher Ryan Traylor of the Spartanburg Blue Eagles for three earned runs on five hits in just 1/3 inning of the all-star game, jumping out to a lead they never relinquished.
Rash's RBI double plated Lake Norman's Ryan Stetson, who drove in the game's first run on a fielder's choice. Morganton's Keith Whitman knocked in Rash, one of six Owls all stars, with an RBI single. Whitman finished 2-for-3.
Justin Roland (UNC Charlotte) of the Owls went 2-for-4 with a walk and two runs while batting in the East's leadoff spot.
By Statesville Owls | July 16, 2010 at 07:03 PM EDT | No Comments
Published: July 16, 2010
MORGANTON - The Statesville Owls guaranteed themselves a home playoff game in Monday's first round of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League playoffs.
The Owls defeated the Morganton Aggies 1-0 on Thursday night in a key makeup game between teams jockeying for homefield advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
Statesville (19-17, 9-7 East) and Morganton (21-17, 9-9 East) could finish tied in the division for second place if Statesville loses both games in Saturday's doubleheader against the Carolina Stingers of Fort Mill, S.C., but the Owls own a pivotal tiebreaker, having defeated Morganton four of the six times they met this season.
The Owls mustered only two hits in seven innings Thursday to pull out the victory. Statesville scored the lone run in the fourth inning on Justin Roland's RBI. That plated Kyle Mastroianni, who recorded the Owls' only other hit.
Jason Borjas, Kyle Brandenburg and Nick Iuni combined for the shutout. Brandenburg allowed two hits in four scoreless innings of work to earn the victory. Iuni pitched the final three innings for the save. He struck out two.
Statesville will host Morganton on Monday in the first round of the division playoffs. The winner moves on to play either the top-seeded Lake Norman Copperheads or fourth-seeded Stingers in the East Division title game for a berth in the best-of-3 SCBL championship series.
Statesville leads the SCBL in attendance. Members of the organization said they hope to see another huge crowd Monday night at Statesville High to root on the Owls, perhaps surpassing the season-high 827 paid attendance July 5 that watched the Owls upend the Tennessee Tornado, 6-2.
The Statesville Owls travel to Morganton today to face the Aggies in an important Southern Collegiate Baseball League makeup game.
The teams met June 19 in Morganton for a doubleheader but only completed the first seven-inning affair before rain washed out the second contest.
Not much separates Statesville (18-17) and Morganton (21-16) for second place in the East Division. They are 8-7 and 9-8, respectively. The Owls have won three of their five meetings with the Aggies.
If the Owls finish second in the East, they would host a playoff game Monday with the winner moving on to the divisional championship game. They would be on the road Monday if they finish third.
Statesville's fate may rest with Saturday's regular-season finale, when it welcomes Fort Mill's Carolina Stingers — who are last in the East — for a doubleheader. Statesville leads the SCBL in attendance, and members of the Owls are hoping for another huge turnout from the home fans as they pursue the right to host a playoff game.
"We feed off their energy," Owls first baseman Joey Frabasile said.
The Owls enter tonight's game on a bit of a roll. They've won six of their last seven, but all of those games except one were against opponents from the West Division.
Statesville picked up a pair of victories over the Carolina Chaos on Tuesday night in Clemson, S.C.
It was a rare mid-week doubleheader, and both games were five-inning affairs. In addition to playing Tuesday night's originally scheduled game, the teams made up Monday night's game, which was postponed because of unplayable field conditions at Statesville High.
The Owls prevailed 2-1 in the opener thanks to a walkoff home run by Frabasile (UNC Greensboro). Scott Glover (High Point) also had one hit and one RBI for the Owls. Brantley Blalock (Lander) pitched one inning in relief for the win.
Statesville won the nightcap 4-2. Addison Johnson (Clemson) and Andrew Rash (Virginia Tech) recorded one hit and one RBI apiece for the Owls. Starting pitcher Charles Wolfe allowed one run on two hits in three innings of work to secure the win. He struck out two
The Southern Collegiate Baseball League showcases its premier talent today in Spartanburg, S.C., and six Statesville Owls will be part of the All-Star game festivities.
Scott Glover, Andrew Rash and Justin Roland, as well as pitchers Brennan Daniels, James Kimsey and Sammy Stuart are among 23 players on the East Division roster. They face the West Division all stars at Wofford College's Russell C. King Field. Game time is 7:15 p.m.
"It's good for them and good for us to get them honored in this way," said Owls coach Jamie Lowe, an assistant coach for the East squad.
The all-star selection is particularly gratifying for Daniels.
The only Statesville native on the Owls roster, Daniels is 2-1 in six starts this season with a 2.03 earned run average.
"I'm glad I made it," said Daniels, a rising sophomore at Brevard College who helped make the Owls a SCBL championship contender. "I've always tried to battle all the hitters I've faced and tried to do as good as I can."
Daniels said he wasn't sure what his role would be for the East team, which features nine pitchers, but he feels certain he'll be handed the ball and told to take the mound at some point.
"I don't really know, but I imagine everybody will probably try to throw one inning so the scouts can see how we do in game situations," he said.
There is more in store for the all stars than just the game.
At 2 p.m., players try out in front of professional scouts. In addition to position evaluations, players will be timed in the 60-yard dash.
That takes place before batting practice begins at 3 p.m. and the home run derby, which follows at 4 p.m.
Kimsey (Mercer) and Stuart (Guilford) have been strong relievers this season with a combined ERA barely over 2.
Alternating between designated hitter and first baseman, Glover (High Point) is batting .370.
Rash (Virginia Tech) and Roland (UNC Charlotte) were not in the Owls dugout when the season started but both have been exceptional in the field and at the plate since their much-anticipated arrival.
A utility player, Rash is batting .407 with a team-best 24 RBIs. He missed the first week of the season but made an immediate impact for the Owls. In his first game, June 8, he went 3-for-4 and his eighth-inning grand slam propelled the Owls to a 6-3 win over Morganton.
"He's a good power bat, too," Daniels said of Rash, who has 10 extra-base hits, including a couple home runs.
Roland has been a staple at shortstop and in the batting order since joining the Owls midway through the season.
He bats .480 with a fielding percentage of .941.
Before coming to Statesville High his senior year, Daniels attended West Iredell and played against Roland, who starred at East Rowan.
"He's getting about two or three hits every night," Daniels said of Roland. "That's pretty good."
Lowe described the collection of Owls players selected to compete in the all-star game today as "special talent."
"I feel like those guys have really got it done pretty much every time they've been out there," said Lowe, before pausing and making a case for a seventh all star.
"We should have probably had another one. Addison Johnson has torn it up since he's been here."
Since finishing his season in the College World Series with Clemson and joining the Owls on July 3, Johnson, who played for Lowe at North Forsyth High, is batting .385. He had two game-winning hits Saturday in a doubleheader with the Asheville Redbirds.
"I kind of got a lot of flack over that because I didn't nominate him," Lowe said. "I just didn't feel like he'd played enough games, but he's hitting it well."
The Owls (16-17) were in Clemson, S.C., on Tuesday night to play the Carolina Chaos. Results were not available in time for this edition.
The Owls play a doubleheader Friday at Spartanburg before returning home Saturday for a key doubleheader, which serves as the regular-season finale. They host the Carolina Stingers of Fort Mill, S.C., with second place in the East still up for grabs. Morganton (9-8 East) and Statesville (8-7 East) are neck-and-neck in the division standings
By Statesville Owls | July 09, 2010 at 09:16 AM EDT | No Comments
JOHNSON CITY - Statesville native Brennan Daniels (Brevard) was brilliant in another start, but Tennessee scored six runs after Daniels was pulled for 6-5 win over the Statesville Owls on Wednesday.
Daniels allowed six hits in six innings of work. He struck out two and allowed zero runs before leaving after hurling 72 pitches.
The Owls led 4-0 going into the bottom of the seventh, but the Tornado (19-13) struck for four runs that inning to tie it.
Addison Johnson heard his name booming over the loudspeaker and took his customary spot in center field during the Statesville Owls home doubleheader Saturday.
For Owls coach Jaime Lowe, it was just like old times.
Lowe was thrilled to see his former superstar player from North Forsyth HS join the Statesville program.
"It's just been a great day for me," a beaming Lowe said in between game one and game two of the doubleheader. "Really, for all of us coaches, it's such an honor to coach all of these boys. But with my history with Addison, to have him come back here and play for me is just really special."
Johnson was part of a three-headed monster during his senior year at North Forsyth.
With Johnson, Wes Hobson and Dustin Ackley leading the way on the field, and Lowe pulling all the right strings as head coach, North Forsyth finished the 2006 season 32-2 and runner-up in the 4A West playoffs.
Ackley starred at UNC Chapel Hill before being the No. 2 overall pick to the Seattle Mariners in 2009. Hobson developed into a draftable player at Appalachian State and was taken in the 40th round of the 2010 draft.
And Johnson stars as a center fielder for Clemson University. He was drafted by the Oakland A's in the 48th round of the 2009 draft, but opted to return to school.
Good thinking.
Johnson and the Tigers recently concluded a deep run in the College World Series that saw them finish just short to eventual national champion South Carolina.
"It was awesome," Johnson said. "We made a goal to play that far, and for us to make a run during the last year it was at Rosenblatt (Stadium) … it was just great to be a part of that."
Clemson's deep run into the CWS made Johnson a late arrival to the Owls. In fact, he missed more than the first half of the season, but it didn't matter to Lowe or his staff.
Although listed on Saturday's roster as a pitcher, Johnson played center field and batted leadoff against Morganton. He had four hits in two games and was a demon on the basepaths.
"Coach Lowe actually came to see me during the Wake Forest game this year," Johnson said. "He talked about the Statesville program and the league, and it sounded good to me. It feels good already."
Johnson was recruited by Clemson as a two-way player, which may explain his being listed as a pitcher on the Statesville roster.
The stocky 5-foot-7 athlete was the star pitcher in high school, and has both velocity and craftiness.
"I think I'll primarily play outfield," Johnson said. "But if they want me to get some innings on the mound, I can do that, too."
Lineup changes Along with the arrival of Justin Roland (UNC Charlotte), Johnson's presence caused the Owls to sport a new-look lineup last week.
Johnson is penciled in the leadoff spot with Roland batting No. 2.
Statesville is now taking advantage of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League rule that allows 10 batters in the lineup by putting Kyle Mastroianni in the 10 spot. Mastroianni spent much of the year as the leadoff batter.
Having Mastroianni, Johnson and Roland batting in succession gives Statesville three guys who can get on base in a variety of ways. They are also three of the fastest players in the league.
"Hitting at the bottom of the lineup, it's like being the second leadoff batter," Johnson said. "I usually hit around there at Clemson. It's an important spot."
Playoff positioning After dropping the opener of Saturday's doubleheader to Morganton, the Owls won the second game. It was a big win.
With two weeks remaining in the regular season, Statesville (13-16, 8-7) owns a one-game lead over Morganton (15-14, 7-8) in the East Division. The two are fighting for the final playoff spot allotted to the East (Lake Norman has already clinched first).
Both teams have two division games left.
Morganton plays a doubleheader against Fort Mill (16-14, 2-10) on Saturday. Statesville concludes its season July 17 with a home doubleheader against Fort Mill.
Depending on what happens in the Morganton-Fort Mill series, Statesville may have already clinched a playoff berth by then. Or, it might need to sweep the doubleheader to keep its postseason hopes alive.
Kyle Mastroianni seems to understand the nuances of being a leadoff hitter.
Despite a recent dip in his batting average, the Statesville Owls centerfielder finds multiple ways to contribute.
Mastroianni, a rising junior at UNC-Pembroke, has the highest on-base percentage on the team and has also scored the most runs.
Through 12 games, Mastroianni was batting .275. But he also had five walks and was a hit by a pitch seven times.
Those walks and HBPs are critical because Mastroianni — with an on-base percentage of .442 — is one of the fastest players in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League and can score in creative ways. Consider the following sequence from a home game last week.
On a 2-2 count, Mastroianni was hit by a pitch. He stole second base the next pitch and advanced to third on a fielder's choice.
He later stole home on a wild pitch, sliding under the tag of the pitcher who covered home. Scoring a run without getting a hit is a huge coup for a baseball team.
Mastroianni may be the best defensive player on the Owls, too.
He made that clear in the top of the first inning of the season's very first game with a beautiful diving catch in center field. Several more highlight-reel catches have followed.
"It's like having Ken Griffey out there," Owls pitcher Brennan Daniels said. "He can track them down. It makes you breathe a little easier on the mound."
Statesville Owls head coach Jamie Lowe spent Tuesday evening recruiting during the Owls' off day.
Lowe serves in the same coaching capacity at Surry Community College.
Down time may be hard to come by these days for Lowe, but the former North Forsyth High coach, who led the Vikings to the state semifinals in 2006, isn't complaining.
His responsibilities increased when he was tabbed as the inaugural coach of the Statesville Owls, who are in their first season as a member of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League.
"It's been a pleasure being in Statesville this summer, I can tell you that," Lowe said.
The Owls are currently locked in a tight SCBL playoff race with the Morganton Aggies to determine who plays the Lake Norman Copperheads in the East Division championship tournament later this month.
Amid the Owls' postseason pursuit, Lowe and his players also look to bolster the sport they love in this community.
The Owls are scheduled to host their second and final skills camp of the summer next week at Statesville High.
The camp, for ages 5-15, runs from 8-11 a.m. July 12-15.
Addressing the fundamentals of baseball, Lowe said, is the primary focus.
"We put them through all phases of the game," he said. "We work on pitching, catching, running the bases, hitting, fielding. We do every part of the baseball game, plus they get to interact with the Owls coaches and players.
"There's a lot of good instruction there."
Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. the day of the camp. The cost is $75.
Interested campers may also pre-register for $65.
Families sending a second child to camp receive a discount price of $50 per child.
The Owls held their first camp last month, and the response pleased Lowe.
"It was a good time last time. I think it will be a good time this time," he said. "We had a lot of positive feedback after the last camp. We hope to have even more people here for this camp, and have another good camp."
Statesville Owls first baseman Joey Frabasile is a New York native but he has taken a liking to Statesville's southern hospitality.
"(Monday) night was an awesome experience," said Frabasile, who keyed the Owls' 6-2 Southern Collegiate Baseball League victory over Tennessee Tornado before an Owls record crowd at Statesville High.
The announced paid attendance — not including children 12 and under — was 827.
The Owls lead the SCBL in attendance, but Monday's draw was their best since 423 paid to see them rally to beat the Carolina Stingers of Fort Mill, S.C., 5-4 in the June 1 season opener.
A 6-foot-2, 200-pound redshirt junior at UNC Greensboro, Frabasile said the Spartans get roughly 300 fans for their home games, maybe more if they're hosting a big-name program.
So playing in front of nearly 1,000 people was a big deal.
"We always love coming home to play here," Frabasile said. "Everyone is so supportive."
The Owls (14-16), who face the Tornado (18-13) in Johnson City, Tenn., today, are 9-7 in games at Statesville High.
Frabasile said he was prepared to go home to Bronx, N.Y., this summer before Owls general manager and co-owner Hugh McBride asked him to stick around and play for the Owls. McBride's son, Wes, also plays for the Owls, and he and Frabasile are teammates and roommates at UNCG.
A Fordham Prep graduate, Frabasile said he's glad he stayed in North Carolina rather than returning to N.Y.
"Oh yeah, without a doubt," he said. "Playing in front of all our great fans makes it that much more fun. We feed off their energy."
That reaction reciprocates.
Frabasile brought Owls fans to their feet in the bottom of the sixth inning Monday.
His two-out double emptied the bases and moved Statesville into the lead for good. He came to the plate after Tennessee lifted struggling starter Lee Stoppelman in favor of Tyler Walker. Stoppelman had just hit Andrew Rash (Virginia Tech) with a pitch to load the bases.
Frabasile drilled the first pitch he saw from Walker deep into the outfield, and the Owls went from trailing 2-1 to leading 4-2.
"I was in the on-deck circle and Mr. McBride told me to go up there and have fun," Frabasile said. "I got it in my mind that the pitcher was not going to beat me. I knew he was going to challenge me with a fastball; the bases were loaded and he had no place to put me. I wanted to put good contact on the ball and fortunately something good happened."
Coupled with his first-inning sacrifice fly, Frabasile finished with a game-high four RBIs, raising his season total to 20.
Only Rash has driven in more runs (22) for the Owls.
Joey Frabasile powered Statesville into the lead and the Owls put the game away late Monday night on their way to a 6-2 Southern Collegiate Baseball league victory over the visiting Tennessee Tornado of Johnson City.
Frabasile (UNC Greensboro) drove in a game-high four runs for the Owls, who won for the second time in as many games after losing their previous five.
Justin Roland (UNC Charlotte) added two hits, including an RBI, for Statesville, which improved to 2-1 on the season versus Tennessee in front of an announced attendance of 827.
The Owls found themselves trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning. But Tornado starting pitcher Lee Stoppelman began losing his touch. He walked two batters, and he hit Andrew Rash to load the bases.
Tennessee attempted to stop the bleeding by pulling Stoppelman in favor of reliever Tyler Walker. But Frabasile took advantage of Stoppelman's loss of control.
Frabasile launched Walker's first offering deep into the outfield. His two-out double emptied the bases and moved Statesville ahead for good, 4-2.
Daniel Hyatt (Winthrop) pitched two-plus innings for the win. He gave up one hit and two walks but no runs while striking out three. He raised his record to 5-0.
Sammy Stuart (Guilford College) and the Owls defense shut the door on the Tornado. After Tennessee got the first two batters on base in the top of the eighth, Stuart relieved Hyatt and recorded six consecutive outs spanning the eighth and ninth innings.
The Owls put the game out of reach in the bottom of the eighth. Roland's RBI single and Rash's RBI ground out tacked on a pair of insurance runs.
Brett Maddox and Shaw Ferguson were both 2-for-4 for Tennessee (18-13), which hosts Statesville (14-16) on Wednesday. The same teams have a doubleheader scheduled for Friday in Johnson City.
By Statesville Owls | June 29, 2010 at 06:49 AM EDT | No Comments
Monday, July 5th is Habitat for Humanity Night at the ballpark as the Statesville Owls take on the Tennessee Tornado, 2009 SCBL Champions.Gates open at 5:00p.m. and you will want to make sure that you are there early for this fun filled night which will be capped off with a huge fireworks display.Habitat for Humanity will be conducting a fund raiser and one lucky local celebrity will win the opportunity to “Kiss a Cow”.Come join your Owls as we celebrate the 4th of July on the 5th.Great Baseball! Great Food!! Great Fun for the entire family!!!
By Statesville Owls | June 20, 2010 at 11:24 AM EDT | No Comments
Joey Frabasile of the Statesville Owls and Keith Whitman of the Morganton Aggies shared the Player of the Week honors in the first week of the SCBL 2010 season. Joey went 6 for 18 with 2 Home Runs, 3 Doubles and an impressive 12 Runs Batted In. Joey was a red-shirt sophomore at UNC Greensboro this spring and his hometown is Hartsdale, New York.
Keith also showed some pop in his bat with a League leading 3 Home Runs as a designated hitter for the Aggies with 5 Runs Batted In. Keith was a junior at UNC Pembroke this spring and his hometown is Elkin, NC.Brennen Daniels of the Statesville Owls is the Pitcher of the Week for the first week of the SCBL 2010 season. Brennen threw just 81 pitches in a complete 7 Inning shutout of the Carolina Stingers. He struck out 5, walked 2 and allowed only 3 hits. Brennen was a freshman at Brevard College and his hometown is Statesville, NC.Congratulations to the young men on a great start to the 2010 SCBL season!
The Opening Night jitters weren't just felt amongst the players at Tuesday's first Statesville Owls home game of the season.
Owls management didn't know what kind of crowd to expect, or what unexpected kinks would work their way into the evening.
Turns out they didn't have to worry much about either.
Crowds of people swarmed to Statesville High School for the premier game of the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, a wooden-bat summer league.
The home and visitor bleachers were jam-packed 30 minutes before the opening pitch, and folks continued to pour into the field and watch the game against the Carolina Stingers of Fort Mill however they could — on folding chairs, on blankets or even standing.
"We're very, very pleased with the crowd," Owls general manager Hugh McBride said. "I've been walk-ing around during the game, thanking people for coming. I wish I could thank everyone personally. "And I hope they all come back."
Yes, it was a night of firsts at Statesville High.
Leadoff batter Kyle Mastroianni had the Owls' first hit, a bloop single into right field in the bottom of the first inning.
Mastroianni also had the first great Owls defensive play when he made a diving catch in center field in the top of the first inning.
And first baseman Joe Frabasile brought the crowd to its collective feet in the second inning with the Owls' first home run.
Frabasile pummeled a 3-2 inside fastball, launching the ball well over the left field fence.
Not bad for a guy who didn't get to take batting practice pregame.
For additional information: http://www2.statesville.com/content/2010/jun/01/crowd-swarms-field-opening-night/sports/
By Statesville Owls | June 07, 2010 at 12:12 PM EDT | No Comments
We ask for our Statesville Owl fans to be patient. We are experiencing technical difficulties with our data being collected at the SCBL website. We believe we will have this corrected very soon and we will be able to furnish up to date scores and stats for our team and our players.
By Statesville Owls | March 07, 2010 at 08:43 PM EST | No Comments
---Trailing 7-3 with two outs in the final inning of game two, Wingate University sophomore shortstop Chris Vazquez (Tyrone, Ga.) blasted a grand slam down the left field line to tie it at seven. The dramatic shot helped the Bulldogs rally for an 8-7 victory and weekend South Atlantic Conference baseball sweep over Tusculum College Saturday. Wingate won the first game 7-4; the Bulldogs now sit in a first-place tie with a 7-2 SAC record. Wingate is 10-5 overall, while Tusculum falls to 7-10 overall and 3-6 in the SAC.
