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Ballers Weather Storms, Complete Comeback to Walk Off Fireflies in Thrilling 5-4 Win Thursday

July 29, 2022

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – In between a 55-minute rain delay and extra innings, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers sent fans home happy with a walk-off victory over the Columbia Fireflies, 5-4 in 11 innings at Atrium Health Ballpark. RHP Noah Owen got the start for Kannapolis on the mound, tossing six clean

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. – In between a 55-minute rain delay and extra innings, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers sent fans home happy with a walk-off victory over the Columbia Fireflies, 5-4 in 11 innings at Atrium Health Ballpark.

RHP Noah Owen got the start for Kannapolis on the mound, tossing six clean innings. The righty from Oceanside, California allowed three runs on three hits, walking one and striking out five. RHP Bowen Plagge entered in relief, firing three shutout innings, allowing just one hit.

Columbia wasted little time in scoring first when River Town crossed the plate on a synchronized base running play, with Carter Jensen sacrificing himself as a caught stealing, allowing Town to score and begin the night of offense for the Fireflies at 1-0.

Omar Hernandez tallied his first home run of 2022 in the top of the second, hitting a long fly ball to left field to push Columbia ahead 2-0 early.

Misael Gonzalez got Kannapolis on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning, crushing the first pitch of his at-bat into the berm in left field for a solo home run. The longball cut into Columbia’s lead at 2-1.

The Fireflies got another insurance run in the top of the sixth inning on a Daniel Vazquez sacrifice fly, scoring Dayton Dooney to push the lead to 3-1.

After a 55-minute rain delay in the bottom of the sixth, Kannapolis found their way on offense late, tying the game on a Samil Polanco two-RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning. Victor Torres and DJ Gladney crossed the plate, knotting the game at 3-3.

Solid pitching on the mound from Plagge and a lack of success on offense from the Ballers sent the game into extra innings, where RHP Liam Jenkins (W, 2-0) worked his magic on the mound. The former Louisville Cardinal tossed a clean 2.0 innings, getting out of multiple jams late.

Columbia forced the hand of Kannapolis in the 11th inning, breaking the tie with a Dooney fielder’s choice, scoring Erick Pena to give the Fireflies a 4-3 advantage.

Smart baserunning and an error from Fireflies 1B Felix Familia proved to be too much to handle for the visiting team in the bottom of the 11th inning. Johnabiell Laureano laid down a sacrifice bunt, with pinch runner James Beard breaking for third base. An errant throw to third from Familia got past Enrique Valdez at the hot corner, allowing Beard and Polanco to cross the plate and give the Ballers their second victory of the week.

Kannapolis and Columbia will square off in the fourth of six matchups this week at Atrium Health Ballpark on Friday night. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m., with the Ballers planned to wear their Marvel Defenders of the Diamond jerseys. LHP Brooks Gosswein (3-5, 4.14 ERA) will get the start against LHP Frank Mozzicato (0-4, 5.63 ERA), the No. 7 overall selection in the 2021 MLB Draft.

Fans can purchase tickets for any upcoming home games at kcballers.com or at the F&M Bank Box Office located at Atrium Health Ballpark.