Friday night at the ballpark on North Prince Street, the Barnstormers were back home from a two-week road trip to host another of the Atlantic League's new franchises. In the winter of 2021 minor league baseball at the affiliated levels underwent a massive reorganization, the fallout included the elimination of over forty established franchises including many of long tenure. In turn the Somerset Patriots and the Sugar Land Skeeters entered the affiliated ranks from the Atlantic League creating two openings which were quickly filled with new additions in Lexington, Kentucky and Charleston, West Virginia. Charleston has a long history in MiLB, the city hosted a Triple-A club known as the "Charlies" in the 1970s and '80s. Most recently the "West Virginia Power" has played at the low-A level as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, the new ALPB team in Charleston has retained that identity. On this night at the ballpark the Stormers broke on top 2-0 in the first inning, Caleb Gindl's leadoff home run was followed by a Melvin Mercedes double and Trayvon Robinson's RBI single. The Power got on the board in the third, the Stormers got that run right back in the bottom half on a Blake Gailen round-tripper. In the top of the fourth WV tied the score 3-3, in the bottom half the Stormers retook the lead on Anthony Peroni's RBI hit scoring Blake Allemand who had reached on a fielders choice. The lead grew to 6-3 in the sixth on LaDarious Clark's two-run home run, in the seventh Trayvon Robinson put the ribbon on the package with another two-run shot onto the picnic deck in the right field. The final score of 8-3 gave starter Anthony DiSabatino the victory, he was supported in relief by newcomer Jordan McCrum (University Of Pittsburgh), former Minnesota Twin Gabriel Moya and returnee Garrett Granitz. The series continues through Sunday afternoon. Take care, thanks for reading.
