Salamanders win first-ever CPL game, beat Copperheads 5-2

Coastal Plain League

ASHEBORO, N.C. – It didn’t take long for the Holly Springs Salamanders to make their mark in the Coastal Plain League (CPL), and to write their inaugural winning entry into the league’s annals.

The Salamanders beat the host Asheboro Copperheads 5-2 in their first-ever game played at McCrary Park on Tuesday.

Led by three RBI’s as part of a 2-5 performance at the plate from Xyruse Martinez, Holly Springs took the early lead and never let go of it.

Tony Davila (1-4) posted the team’s other RBI as six different Salamanders hitters found spots in the Copperheads defense to finish with a team total eight hits.

Michael Sconzo (1-2) scored twice while Martinez, Jon Rosoff (2-4), and Shaquille Rolle (1-4) each crossed the plate once.

Holly Springs led 2-0 after the third inning and extended its margin to 4-1 through the fifth, even while Copperheads starter Andrew Tomasovich eventually posted nine strikeouts in six innings.

Holly Springs’ batters earned their hits to get on base, taking a lot of deep cuts and striking out a total of 16 times as Tomasovich, along with Brad Haymes (2 IP, 5 SO, 1 ERA) and Brendan Mulligan (1 IP, 2 SO, 2 BB) challenged them throughout.

A total of four batters combined for six hits led by RBI’s from Skyler Geissinger and Jack Crittenberger who helped put the Copperheads on the board.

Salamanders starter Christian Lanham pitched six innings and finished with five strikeouts, a walk and one earned run against on three hits, while Chris Williams threw the final three innings in relief, giving up one run on three hits.

Holly Springs travels to Hampton, Va. to face the two-time defending CPL champion Peninsula Pilots on Wednesday and then returns home to host the Edenton Steamers in the team’s sold out home opener at the North Main Athletic Complex on Thursday.

Boxscore – Coastal Plain League