Steamers Season Comes to an End in 5-4 Loss to Drillers
By: Patrick Foster
Edenton, NC– The Edenton Steamers fell in the semi-final round of the Tidewater Summer League single game elimination postseason 5-4 to the Tidewater Drillers on Saturday night at Historic Hicks Field. The Steamers overall record in 2020 wraps up at 21-6 as they fall two games shy of bringing home what would have been their fourth championship and first ever in the TSL.
Tidewater opened up the scoring in the top of the third scoring three runs off of Steamers starter Alex Shirazi. Cameron Reckling went deep against Edenton for the third time in the last three matchups while second baseman Mason Dunaway followed hit an RBI double and later came into score on a sacrifice fly.
Edenton cut the deficit to just one run in the bottom of the fifth. Jared Kauffman grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and none out to score Tyler McPeak and Brody Rubenstein scored as the second run on a throwing error from Cade Brewer.
The hometown clams tied up matters in the bottom of the sixth at 3-3. Alan Alonso belted a leadoff solo shot over the centerfield wall for his 11th of the summer and third hit of the night.
Tidewater retook the lead in the top of the seventh when Cameron Reckling sent his second home run of the night, a two-run homer, over the left field wall to push the score to 5-3.
Aaron Copeland brought his first and only RBI of the night in with a two out single to centerfield to bring the score to 5-4.
After shutting down Tidewater in the top of the ninth the Steamers quickly found themselves down their final out in their half of the inning after Jackson Hipp and Shane Easter were set down back-to-back. After Brody Rubenstein drew a two-out walk, Jared Kauffman grounded a 1-1 pitch softly down the first base line on a check swing as he went down as the final out of the game.
Edenton starter Alex Shirazi surrendered three earned runs on five hits with two walks and two punch outs. Joe Kemlage earned the loss after two and two thirds of an inning in which he gave up two runs on one hit with a walk and six strikeouts.
Relief pitcher Joey Rodriguez was the winning pitcher for Tidewater. He gave up just one run on two hits, two walks with four strikeouts in four full innings on the bump.
The Steamers and Drillers were tied in hits 7-7 while Tidewater committed three errors while Edenton made none. Alan Alonso led the way for Edenton offensively going 3-3 with a solo home run and a walk while Josiah Sightler was the only other Steamer to pick up multiple hits with two base knocks.
The Steamers will be back in 2021 in pursuit of their first ever Tidewater Summer League championship.