Pelicans earn postseason berth

The long wait has ended. The Pelicans ended the longest playoff drought in the Carolina League, clinching the Southern Division title with an 8-5 win over Kinston. Myrtle Beach hasn't been in the postseason since 2002.

The Pelicans concluded their stampede to the first half title, dusting Kinston 8-5 in the series opener at Grainger Stadium to clinch their first post-season berth since 2002. The title-clinching victory effectively ends the longest current playoff drought in the Carolina League.

The Pelicans announced that they intended to take home the title early in game one. Willie Cabrera, the second batter of the ballgame, took Carlton Smith over the wall in left for a quick 1-0 lead. One batter later, Ernesto Mejia did the very same thing, clubbing the first pitch he saw out of the ballpark to left, and Myrtle Beach led after a half inning, 2-0.

Smith (4-3) settled in following the second blast however, retiring the next ten Pelicans that he faced. Regardless, his late struggles would sink him, as he endured the loss over six innings.

The K-Tribe then answered in the third, plating three runs off of Ryne Reynoso to lead, 3-2. Reynoso walked Jason Denham to start the inning, and then permitted four consecutive singles which plated the first two runs to tie the ballgame. Kinston assumed the lead with a Nick Weglarz sacrifice fly to left field that scored Johnny Drennen.

A solo home run from Adam Davis off of Reynoso extended the Tribe lead to 4-2 in the fifth inning. Reynoso turned in six strong innings however, and earned the win in the Pelicans’ clincher.

The game see-sawed back in the Pelicans favor in the sixth inning, as two unearned runs completed a three-run frame that put the Pelicans back in front, 5-4. Cabrera again sparked the offense, contributing a one-out single. Eric Campbell then belted a Smith offering off the center field fence to score Cabrera with a double. Campbell was plated to tie the game at four on a ball to third from Brandon Hicks that was misplayed by Jerad Head. Hicks then gave the Pelicans the lead when he scored on a ball belted off the wall in center from Tyler Flowers.

Campbell was the offensive star of the night, as the relative new-comer to the lineup iced the win and the in turn the first half title. With two away and two aboard in the seventh, Campbell ripped the first pitch from reliever Neil Wagner out of the ballpark to left, and the Pelicans led, 8-4. Campbell netted four RBI for a second consecutive game.

Tyler Wilson pitched two innings of relief and allowed the final run of the ballgame, but Brett Butts slammed the door with a quick ninth inning to bring home the championship. Butts earned his eighth save of the year.

The Pelicans won without Rocket Wheeler, who was away from the club to attend the graduation of his daughter Kate.