Monday was a cool and drizzly kind of day, the conditions carried over into Tuesday when there was some legitimate rainfall. In the afternoon I might have laid odds on the evening's ballgame being played but as the day wore on things brightened up and all systems were go (the turf surface at the ballpark doesn't hurt, either). At the ballpark the Stormers were back in town for the start of a six-gamer with the Gastonia Ghost Peppers. Gastonia has been in the league since 2021, they began as the Honey Hunters before a change in management ushered in a new identity. Since we last saw the Stormers their roster has undergone massive upheaval, no less than nine players have moved on to opportunities in affiliated organizations, foreign leagues or (in one case) retirement. On this night the North Carolinians took a 1-0 lead in the second, a two-run home run from Troy Schreffler gave the Stormers a 2-1 advantage in the third. Gastonia tied it in the fourth before David Smith's RBI single in the fifth restored the Stormers' one-run lead. Single runs for the Ghost Peppers in the sixth and seventh proved to be the difference in a 4-3 Gastonia victory, A.J. Alexy took the decision in relief of starter Kyle Lazer. The series continues through to Sunday. Take care, thanks for reading.
