The Sanford Spinners won three out of four games over the past week, bringing their overall record to 9-13 and keeping their playoff hopes alive.
The Spinners split a double header against the Fayetteville Chutes on July 7, and then swept the Swepsonville Sweepers in a double header on July 12.
Both games against Swepsonville featured complete games from pitchers Elliot Mann and Jon Foster, and third baseman Kaden Sigmon went 5 for 8 over the course of both games with four doubles, two runs batted in and three runs. Centerfielder Mikey Scott also had three hits.
Head Coach Jeremy Palme said the wins – against the second and third ranked teams in the division – were a morale booster for a team that struggled early and give momentum as the season nears its end.
“We’re scheduled for seven games in six days this week, and our pitching staff is really slim right now due to injuries, so I genuinely can’t stress enough how important Elliot and Jon rising to the challenge and throwing our first two complete games of the season was,” he said. “Also, I couldn’t be more excited to see some of our guys like Juan Tejera, Wyatt Spurrier and Kaden Sigmon who had gotten off to slow starts finally starting to break out and show what kind of ball players they really are.”
The Spinners play 7 p.m. tonight (July 14) at home against the Swepsonville Sweepers (it’s also Rant night at the ballpark!) and then will host a double header against the Deep River Mud Dogs on Friday. The final four games of the regular season consist of double headers against the Brunswick Surfin’ Turfs (in Southport) on Saturday and at home against the Mud Dogs on Wednesday, July 21.
As of July 14, the Spinners are in fourth place in the Old North State League’s east division, ahead of Brunswick (8-12) and Deep River (3-9). The Oak City Gliders lead the division at 11-6, followed by Fayetteville (13-8), and Swepsonville (14-10)
Palme said he’s confident the team has what it takes to make the post season.
“I absolutely think we’re talented enough to do it, but if we are going to really make a run down the stretch it’s going to take everyone playing up to their potential and together as a team,” he said.