RedWolves' Altman handcuffs Blowfish

By: By Sam Bundy Morning News sbundy@florencenews.com | SCNow
Published: June 22, 2008

FLORENCE – No matter who takes the mound for the Florence RedWolves, they almost always get the job done.
On Saturday night, Kent Altman worked seven scoreless innings to lead the RedWolves over the Columbia Blowfish 5-1 in front of 1,546 fans at Legion Field.
Altman (2-0) gave up three hits, walked four and struck out three. He’s just the latest pitcher to post a strong outing on a RedWolves’ staff that leads the Coastal Plain League with a 2.07 earned run average, which is nearly a run better than the next closest staff.
“I was excited about our pitching staff coming into the season, but you have to prove yourself out on the mound,” said Florence coach Wes Davis. “Our guys have done that. They throw strikes.”
Altman kept the Blowfish off-balance by consistently getting ahead in the count with first-pitch strikes. Three of his four walks didn’t come until the sixth and seventh innings.
“I was really pleased with the way Kent threw the ball,” Davis said. “He’s just going to go out there and challenge a lot of guys.
“Our pitchers come from all over the place, from all types of programs. (RedWolves pitching coach) J.T. (Severe) has told them that our goal is to get an out with the first three pitches. He’s pounded that home and our pitchers have responded to that.”
Florence (16-4) took a 1-0 lead in the third when Keon Graves singled to left, stole second, took third on Justin Beal’s bunt single and scored on a bad throw to first on the play.
Alex Lowery gave the RedWolves a 2-0 lead on a solo home run to right-center with one out in the bottom of the sixth.
With one out in the top of the eighth, Columbia’s David Anderson hit a solo shot to almost the same spot as Lowery to pull the Blowfish within 2-1.
Florence then pushed across three runs – two unearned -- in the bottom of the eighth.
After Lowery walked and Jared Barkdoll singled to put RedWolves at first and third with one out, Graves doubled to score Lowery for a 3-1 lead and move Barkdoll to third.
An out later, Keegan Morrow walked to load the bases before Jamie Walczak reached on an error that scored Barkdoll and Graves for the game’s final margin.
Florence, which needs a win or a Wilmington loss to clinch the CPL’s South division first-half title, will host Columbia on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

RedWolves' Altman handcuffs Blowfish

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