Crawdads clinch second-half title, punch ticket to playoffs

The Hickory Crawdads may have fallen just short in their quest to win a first-half division title, but they have absolutely dominated the second half of the Single-A Carolina League season.

As a result, Hickory entered Thursday’s late home game against the Fayetteville Woodpeckers at 79-47 overall and 45-17 since the second half of the season began on June 19. Both of those records were better than any of the other 11 teams in the Carolina League, and the Crawdads were also 10 games ahead of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers for the top spot in the South Division’s second-half standings at press time.

And because of their second-half tear — which included a season-long 12-game winning streak through Wednesday — the Crawdads recently secured the South Division’s second-half title and with it a spot in the postseason. Hickory will host the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs in the opener of a best-of-three division series on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. at L.P. Frans Stadium before the series shifts to Charleston for Games 2 (Sept. 10, 7:05 p.m.) and 3 (Sept. 11, 7:05 p.m. if necessary).

The Hickory-Charleston winner will advance to the best-of-three Carolina League Championship Series, which starts on Sept. 13 at 5 p.m. and will feature either the Fredericksburg (Va.) Nationals or the Woodpeckers.

But before turning their attention to the playoffs, the Crawdads hosted Fayetteville on Thursday and Friday prior to wrapping up the six-game series and the regular season with contests tonight (Saturday, Sept. 5) at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Hickory’s six most recent wins entering Thursday were as follows …

FRIDAY, AUG. 28

Hickory 9, Wilson 5 (Game 1); Hickory 11, Wilson 1 (Game 2)

The Crawdads swept a seven-inning road doubleheader against the Woodpeckers to begin last weekend, with designated hitter Deward Tovar recording four hits including two home runs to go with six RBIs in Game 1.

Tovar ultimately finished a triple shy of hitting for the cycle as he blasted a grand slam, a solo shot, a double, and a single. Kaden Carpenter added a pair of singles, an RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base for Hickory, while Yolfran Castillo had a single and an RBI to go with a run scored.

Evan Siary (7-3) was the winning pitcher in the opener thanks to 5 1/3 innings of five-run, seven-hit ball during which he had four strikeouts, one walk, and a hit batsman. Furthermore, JD McReynolds earned his sixth save of the season after striking out three and issuing one walk in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief.

In Game 2, Hickory got two hits apiece from Castillo (three-run homer, double, four RBIs, two runs) and Daniel Flames (double, single, RBI, run), one hit each from Carpenter (triple, two RBIs, two runs), Paulino Santana (solo homer, SB), Sebastian Baquera (single, RBI, run), Marco Argudin (single, run), Noah Franklin (double, two runs), Curley Martha (single), and Jay McQueen (single), and strong pitching from starter Moises Morales (6 IP, ER, 6 H, BB, HBP, 6 K) — who earned the win to move to 10-2 — and reliever Michael Trausch (IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K).

SATURDAY, AUG. 29

Hickory 10, Wilson 7

A high-scoring affair went the Crawdads’ way as they outhit the Warbirds 11-10 in addition to outscoring them.

Carpenter led all players with three hits (solo homer, triple, double, two RBIs, two runs), while Martha (two singles, two RBIs, run) also enjoyed a multi-hit game to go with one hit apiece from Kolby Branch (two-run homer, three RBIs), Franklin (single, RBI, run, SB), McQueen (double, two runs), Brandon Crabtree (double, RBI), Tovar (single), and Seong-Jun Kim (single).

Earning the win on the mound was Will Whelan (2-0), who tossed an inning of relief and surrendered one run on one hit with two strikeouts, two walks, and a hit batsman. Whelan was one of six pitchers used by Hickory.

SUNDAY, AUG. 30

Hickory 6, Wilson 2

Crabtree singled three times, knocked in two runs, and scored a run in the Crawdads’ final game against the Warbirds, while McQueen had two singles and two RBIs, Carpenter hit a solo homer and scored twice, and Santana finished with a single, two runs scored, and a stolen base.

Jesus Lafalaise upped his record to 3-5 thanks to 4 2/3 innings of three-hit relief during which he allowed an unearned run, struck out six, and walked two.

TUESDAY, SEPT. 1

Hickory 6, Fayetteville 2

Despite being outhit 7-6, the Crawdads collected their second straight four-run victory behind one hit apiece from Josh Springer (single, two RBIs), Castillo (single, RBI, run, two SB), Crabtree (single, RBI, run), Flames (double, RBI), Santana (single, run, two SB), and McQueen (single).

Brandon Jaenke (2-0) was the winning pitcher following 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief during which he had one strikeout and issued no walks.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2

Hickory 5, Fayetteville 4

The Crawdads made it a dozen wins in a row courtesy of a one-run victory over the Woodpeckers, with five different pitchers seeing time on the mound as Jake Barbee (3 1/3 IP, ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 4 K) earned his first win and Louis Marinaro (IP, 2 K) notched his eighth save.

McQueen (double, single, RBI, run) and Franklin (two singles) each had two hits, while Crabtree singled and knocked in a run, Castillo had a triple to go with a run scored and a stolen base, and Santana recorded a single.