WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - A.J. Campbell delivered his strongest start of the season, leading the Williamsport Potato Capers to a 4-3 win over the State College Spikes on Friday Night.
Campbell’s night got off to an auspicious start, allowing a run on three hits in the top of the 1st inning. He was able to minimize the damage, getting an inning-ending double play to get out of the frame.
After the first inning, Campbell settled in nicely, holding the Spikes to just one hit over the next seven innings, not allowing a Spikes runner to reach 2nd base in that stretch.
The Capers defense made some fine plays behind Campbell, none finer than a bare-handed pick up by 3rd basemen, Joey Parliment, who would throw on to 1st to get Chenar Brown to end the top of the 5th inning.
Parliment delivered at the plate as well, giving Williamsport the lead for good with a two-out, RBI single to right field, scoring Carlos Castillo in the 4th inning. It was Parliment’s 22nd RBI of the season.
Castillo drove in the Potato Capers final run of the game singling into center, to score Jackson Mayo. With that RBI, Castillo became the Potato Capers single-season RBI record holder, plating his 33rd run of the season.
Vantrel Reed chipped in offensively, getting the Capers on the board with a RBI fielder’s choice in the bottom of the 3rd inning and then scoring on a Spikes defensive error in the bottom of the 5th inning.
Holland Townes entered in the top of the 9th, recording his 2nd save of the season. Townes did allow a pair of runs in his inning of work, but struck out the final two batters of the inning to complete the save. State College had the tying run at 2nd and the go-ahead runner standing at 1st at the time of the final out.
Williamsport continues their homestand with a matchup against Mahoning Valley on Saturday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
Cutters Carvings: The last Potato Capers complete game was thrown by Blair Frederick on September 4th, 2022 at Frederick… McGwire Holbrook previously held the Capers Draft League era record for most RBI in a season, setting the mark in 2024… Jackson Mayo needs one more hit to tie the Capers Draft League era single-season hits record…
