Anyone from Latta knows that Raymond Felton is a gifted athlete. He could've been a shortstop in the majors, a quarterback in the NFL or a point guard in the NBA. Heels and Bobcats fans are happy he chose that third route, but he had the opportunity to hit the baseball diamond Wednesday.
Felton threw out the first pitch in the Pelicans game against Potomac. The former Latta native did not warm up or take any practice pitches, and it showed, as he threw it high and outside to Robert Marcial.
Before the pitch, Felton admitted that he was actually better at baseball growing up, but loved basketball too much to do anything else.
On the first day of free agency, Felton said he expects to stay with Charlotte next year. But he admits to not knowing anything about the negotiation process - he's leaving everything up to his agent. Felton was given a qualifying offer by the Bobcats worth over 5 million for next year. But another team can sign him if they offer more money and the Bobcats do not match it.
The Pelicans did not give Felton much of a show while he was there. The Nationals shut out the Pelicans 9-0 in the middle game of a three-game set, securing a series win in front of 3,573 at BB&T Coastal Field.
Potomac got four of its first five batters on board in the first with Dan Nelson and Devin Ivany scoring on a Jesus Valdez single to get the game underway. In the third, they added to the lead with another RBI single by Valdez and a two-run triple by Brian Peacock. The P-Nats led 5-0 after the third, following Tuesday night’s series opener in which they led 6-0 after the same. Pelicans starter Jacob Thompson lasted five innings but surrendered seven runs on ten hits, both season highs.
The Pelicans’ offense was shut out for the second time in five games. Myrtle Beach only mustered four hits off four Nationals arms. Potomac starter Terrence Engles (2-3) tossed six innings of three-hit ball, striking out five with two walks. Jesse Estrada, Dan Leatherman and Atahualpa Severino combined to one-hit the Pelicans over three innings of relief. Four different players had a hit for Myrtle Beach, but the Birds did not get a runner past second base on the night.
A pair of Nats hit two-run homers to add to the lead. Peacock hit his first of the year off Thompson (2-2) in the fifth inning, and Francisco Plasencia did it in the seventh off Myrtle Beach reliever Mikey Mehlich. Right-hander Brandon Beachy faced the minimum in a scoreless ninth.
The Pelicans will try to salvage the series finale tomorrow night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 at BB&T Coastal Field.
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