Colonial Heights, VA- A third inning three-run home run by Hanover‘s Alex Christie was enough to provide the difference for the Chilly Peppers in a 5-4 exhibition victory over the Native American National Team Warriors Tuesday morning at Shepherd Stadium. The first ever Chili(y) Peppers day game in team history was well attended by school students and their teachers from around the Tri-Cities area. They got to see a close contest on their day off from the classroom provided by a very game Native American National Team that had some good offensive talent to threaten the Chilly Peppers victory ambitions. In the end two home runs by the Chilly Peppers offense was just enough for the third win of the exhibition season for the Chili Peppers’ alter ego.
Tuesday’s lineup featured many of the Chili Peppers regulars for the first time this season with the previous two exhibition contests taking place with a CPL game on the same night. The game came at a good time for the Chili Peppers who are in the midst of a three-game losing streak in CPL play with a contest against the first place Moorehead City Marlins coming up on Thursday.
Frostburg State’s Danny Estrada cracked a two-run homer over the right-center field fence in the first inning to give the Chillys an early 2-0 lead, but after a quiet second inning by both teams the Warriors mounted a response. Two base hits around a 1-3 fielder’s choice to Chilly Peppers starter Walker Pedante (Caldwell Tech. C.C.) led to a sacrifice fly that cut the lead to 2-1. Then a mammoth two-run home run put the Warriors in front 3-2. The Chillys were knocked down but sprang right back to their feet in the bottom of the third. Krew Bouldin (Delaware State) and Michael Dolberry (Longwood) went back-to-back on base hits, setting the table for Christie to restore a two run advantage at 5-3 with his first home run in all contests this season.
From there, Caleb Grizzard (Roanoke) and Joe Hastings (Virginia State) split the final six innings equally allowing just one run between themselves with Grizzard striking out a whopping seven batters in his three innings. Hastings earned the three inning save allowing no runs and striking out four batters of his own.
Three of the next four CPL games are home at Shepherd Stadium for the Chili Peppers who will look to end their three game losing streak Thursday against the Moorehead City Marlins.
Thursday, June 15 (7:00) vs. Moorehead City Marlins, Thirsty Thursday
Friday, June 16 (7:00) vs. Peninsula Pilots, Girl Scout Night
Saturday, June 17 (7:05) @ Wilson Tobs, Listen on Mixlr
Sunday, June 18 (5:45) vs. Wilson Tobs, Faith Night