Owls outrace Bigfoots, 16-8

June 8, 2023

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Matthew Heavner of the Forest City Owls rounds the corner at third base, heading home for the first run of the June 8 game against the Boone Bigfoots. Photographic image by David Rogers

By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — The Boone Bigfoots got off… well, they got off on the wrong foot June 8 and could never quite recover, losing to the division-leading Forest City Owls, 16-8, in a Coastal Plain League matchup.

With what looked more like a football score than a baseball result, the game was long on offense and short on pitching but an entertaining affair for the 200-plus fans in attendance at Smith Stadium on a cool, breezy, mid-week evening.

This ball is outta here! J C Navarro connects for a home run in the 2nd inning of game vs. Forest City Owls on June 8. Photographic image by David Rogers

The visiting Owls scored 16 runs on 20 hits, including nine doubles, a triple and two home runs. They were helped by a pair of Bigfoot fielding errors.

Scoring eight runs on nine hits, the Bigfoots were a bit more efficient in capitalizing on their offensive production. They just needed to get more guys on base if the game was going to be a slugfest.

Two of the Owls’ nine doubles happened in the first inning, beginning with shortstop Matthew Heavner’s leadoff rip to the gap in left field. He plated the game’s first run of the evening just one batter later when Owl right fielder G. Allen singled, the speedy Heavner not pausing as he rounded third (see cover photo) and headed home, standing up. Allen later scored on third baseman Brady Jeffcoat’s double to left, accounting for the Owls’ second earned run of the opening frame.

Runner! As Boone Bigfoots’ pitcher Dante Chirico delivers, the Forest City Owls runner is off to the races on June 8 at Smith Stadium. Photographic image by David Rogers

The Bigfoots’ starter on the mound, Dante Chirico (App State), wriggled out of any further damage but the the foreshadowing of a potential slugfest had been set.

The Bigfoots were unable to respond in the first inning but got things started in the second. First baseman J.C. Navarro lofted a home run to left to lead off the inning and guaranteed there would be no shutout. Then, the Bigfoots took advantage of a hit batter, a single, and a walk to load the bases with nobody out, setting up second baseman Brayden Simpson’s 2-RBI single to center. A bit later, catcher Braxton Church (App State) put up a long sacrifice fly to left, scoring third baseman Zach Weaver, who had walked previously and advanced to third on an earlier throw to the plate.

That 4-2 Bigfoot advantage at the end of the second inning was the last they would see as the Owls exploded for four runs each in the third and fourth innings on more doubles and home runs. Meanwhile, Forest City’s starting pitcher, Austin Hunley, kept the Bigfoot bats silenced, retiring the side in order in the bottom half of the third and fourth innings. He made it through the 5th inning, but after the Bigfoots scored three runs in the frame he was replaced by reliever Cooper Sain.

Out! Boone Bigfoots catcher Braxton Church pegged the ball perfectly to get the Forest City Owls runner attempting to steal second on June 8. Photographic image by David Rogers

Offensively in the bottom of the fifth, the Bigfoots took advantage of Hunley’s perceived tiring on the mound. A single to center by shortstop and leadoff hitter Carlos Amezquita, followed by a towering fly ball over the centerfielder’s head off the bat of Church that bounced over the wall for a ground rule double put Boone runners on second and third. Cleanup batter Caden Wagner was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting up Navarro’s RBI single that kept the bases loaded. Justin Reed was hit by yet another pitch, forcing Church home before Boone centerfielder Nadir Lewis advanced on a fielder’s choice that scored Wagner from third.

By this point, the Owls were leading 13-7, though, and were running out of innings in which to tally runs. They added one more run in the 6th inning but Forest City plated two more and then three more over the final three frames while keeping the Bigfoots scoreless.

Hunley was credited as the winning pitcher, Chirico the losing pitcher, while Sain picked up the save.

With the win, the Owls strengthen their hold atop the CPL West Division at 5-1. The Bigfoots fall into a tie for the No. 4 spot in the division, matching the Macon Bacon’s 2-4 record.

CPL West Division Standings