Wingmen Dominate Chutes, Extend Streak to 4-0
The Kinston Wingmen continued their undefeated streak on Friday, securing a 9-2 victory over the Fayetteville Chutes. This win marks the Wingmen's second triumph over the Chutes, following an 8-6 victory in their first encounter. The Wingmen now stand at an impressive 4-0 for the season.
"Just another great win,” coach Jackson Massey said. “The guys are finding ways to win each time, I am really proud of their effort."
The Wingmen's offense was firing on all cylinders, with Travis Gamache igniting the scoring in the first inning with a single that brought home Logan Merritt. The team further extended their lead in the fifth inning when Maja Brown drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Chase Pierce.
The seventh inning proved decisive for the Wingmen, as they put up four runs. Fisher Harrison was the star of the inning, unloading the bases with a triple that brought in three runs. The Wingmen added another three runs in the eighth, effectively sealing their victory.
On the mound, Dawson Ables led the Wingmen to victory, pitching four and a third innings, allowing zero runs on three hits, striking out six and walking one. The bullpen also played a crucial role, with Brandon Warren, Trace Hartman, Richard Nobles, and Josh Swartz all securing outs and ultimately the victory.
The Wingmen's offense was equally impressive, scattering nine hits in the game. Harrison, Gamache, and SJ Harris all had multiple hits, with Harrison leading the charge, going 3-for-5 at the plate.
Head coach Jackson Massey praised his team's performance, particularly noting their strategic use of the bullpen and their offensive prowess. "They did a great job with as many games we are playing the next few days, we did a really good job with our bullpen by going inning by inning, a lot of them kept their pitch count low so a lot of them are available for tomorrow," said Massey. "We did some great things offensively too... that was huge for our confidence."
Shortstop Fisher Harrison echoed Massey's sentiments, expressing his excitement for the season ahead. "We got a lot of big things coming this season for these Wingmen. First team out of Kinston, we are doing incredible things out here. I am so excited where we end up at the end of the season, we might be right there in the championship," said Harrison. "Everybody heads are together, we all want the same thing, we all got common goals out here. I love it."
The Kinston Wingmen, the newest addition to the Old North State League, have made an impressive start to their inaugural season. With a strong roster boasting local talent and promising players from top-tier baseball programs, the team is ready to make their mark on the league. Their next game will be Saturday against Brunswick Surfing Turfs. This will be the second matchup of the season as Wingmen won game one 6-3 in Kinston.
