The Gastonia Baseball Club’s stormy first half will go down in history
A dominant first half has earned the Gastonia Baseball Club a place in the record books of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB).
Gastonia won the ALPB’s South Division with a record of 46-17, putting it 10 games ahead of the rival High Point Rockers. Its .730 winning percentage also set a new league record, percentage points better than Southern Maryland’s first half in 2022 (.727).
Coach Mauro “Goose” Gozzo’s club finished the first half in style, winning its last nine games. It enters this week’s games on a 10-game winning streak, adding to its record with a 15-5 victory over Lexington.
Since June 1, Gastonia has won 26 of 32 games.
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Home runs have played a big role in Gastonia’s success. By July 7, the team had hit a new record of 117. The team has also done its part on the field: GBC allowed the fewest runs in the ALPB and the second fewest earned runs allowed (257). It also achieved a fielding percentage of .984 and made the fewest errors (36).
Here’s a look at some of those who contributed to the team’s success through 63 games.
Trent Fennell
The 28-year-old Dunn native has a 3-0 record in 21 games, including a 2.03 ERA, 42 strikeouts in 35 ⅓ innings and two saves.
Jake Gatewood
The 29-year-old infielder had a .280 batting average with 16 home runs in the first half, as well as 13 doubles and 53 RBIs.
Gabe Klobosits
Klobosits is 6’1″ and weighs 250 pounds. This season, he has a 3-3 record, a 2.76 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched. He is credited with five saves.
Zac Lowther
In 11 starts, the left-hander from Gastonia has a record of 4-0 with a 2.82 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 54 ⅓ innings.
Patrick Mazieka
The 30-year-old catcher, a former major league player for the New York Mets, has 14 home runs, 12 doubles and 42 RBIs.
Ljay Newsome
The 5-foot-10, 215-pound pitcher has a 5-1 record, a 3.85 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 51 ⅓ innings pitched this season. He has pitched five or more innings in seven starts, including each of his last four.
Josh Stowers
The Gastonia hitter has a .313 batting average this season, including the team’s best hits (75) and RBIs (54) and 15 home runs.
Kevin Watson, Jr.
The 25-year-old outfielder leads Gastonia with a .314 batting average, eight home runs, 12 doubles, two triples and 44 RBIs.
Justin Wylie
Wylie had a batting average of .266 with 21 home runs and 48 RBIs, the highest in the ALPB.
Next schedule
- A bat: at the Charleston Dirty Birds (July 9-11); first pitch on July 9 and 11 at 6:35 p.m., start on July 10 at 12:05 p.m.
- On board: at the Lexington Legends (July 16-18); the first two games start at 7 p.m., the first pitch for the series finale is at 2 p.m.
- In the hole: vs. Southern Maryland Blue Crabs (July 16-18); first pitch every night at 7 p.m.
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