The Sanford Spinners won four consecutive games last week, bringing their record to 11-13 as their first season in the Old North State League nears its end.
The wins came on July 12, in a double header in Swepsonville against the third place Sweepers (5-4, 9-3), and on Friday, in a double header at home against the Deep River Mud Dogs (10-3, 8-7).
The Spinners are in fourth place in the league’s east division, with the top four teams in each division advancing to the playoffs. The Oak City Gliders lead the division at 13-7, while the Fayetteville Chutes are in second place at 16-9.
In the first of Friday’s games, starter Jonathan Foster pitched six innings, giving up four hits, and first baseman Nick Fakouri was two for four with a double and a grand slam.
In the second game, starter Elliot Mann gave up four hits over five innings. Centerfielder Mikey Scott had a three-run triple, and the game ended in a walk off double by first baseman Cade Oliver that scored two runs.
The Spinners have four games left to play, two at home against Deep River on Wednesday (4 p.m. and 7 p.m.) and two against Brunswick in Southport on Thursday. There’s also an unfinished game from July 14 against the Swepsonville Sweepers that has yet to be rescheduled, which the Sweepers were leading 6-3 when it was called for rain.
Brunswick (9-13) is the next team back from Sanford in the standings, but with six games for the Surfin’ Turfs left to play – including one against Swepsonville (14-10), the next team ahead of Sanford – the playoff picture still remains in flux.