Shallywags Blast Rockfish in Round One, Advance to Semis

SHALLOTTE, N.C—The Shallywags stayed hot when it mattered the most, riding a late-game offensive eruption and a lights-out bullpen to blow past the Hope Mills Rockfish, 17–3, on Wednesday night, punching their ticket to the second round of the Old North State League playoffs.

In their first-ever playoff game, Shallotte erupted for 15 unanswered runs across the final three innings, breaking open a tight 4–3 ballgame and turning it into a rout. Jude Morton powered the lineup with a six-RBI night, going 3-for-6 with a bases-clearing double in the seventh and an RBI single in the eighth to cap his monster night.

“It’s good to see, especially after his performance the other day (Sunday) against Oak Island—I know he’s been swinging it real well,” said designated hitter Branton Jernigan, who scored three of Shallotte’s 17 runs. “It’s been good for him to capitalize on us getting on base for him and getting the scoring position. 

Hope Mills jumped out early with a three-run homer from Landen Edwards in the top of the first. But from that point forward, Shallotte’s pitching—anchored by Ryder Whitacre and Zach Steagall—completely silenced the Rockfish. Whitacre rebounded from the early blast to strike out eight over four innings, while Steagall earned the win in relief with five no-hit innings and 10 strikeouts.

“Even though Ryder had a rough first inning, he settled down and gave us what they needed out of him,” Jernigan said in regards to both pitchers. “That’s what we need from our pitching staff this postseason.”

Payton Hankins got Shallotte on the board with a two-run homer to right in the second to make it 3-2. The Shallywags took the lead in the sixth on a fielder’s choice off Morton’s bat that brought home Trey Pierce and Jernigan. The floodgates opened in the seventh, as Shallotte poured on scoring eight runs on seven hits, highlighted by Pierce’s two-run single, Morton’s bases-loaded double, and Bobby Fleming’s two-run double.

But the Shallywags didn’t let up, adding five more runs in the eighth. Ryan Yaroshuk drove in two with a single, Ryan Davis added an RBI base hit, and Morton and Fleming each contributed one more RBI to seal the statement win.

Shallotte finished with 18 hits, including three from Morton, Pierce, and Fleming each. Yaroshuk, Hankins, and Michael Royston also recorded multi-hit games. On defense, Shallotte was perfect—committing no errors and making several sharp plays behind the mound.

With the win—the first playoff victory in franchise history—Shallotte advances to face the No. 2 seed Jacksonville Ospreys in the Divisional Semifinals. The Shallywags will now hit the road for a one-game showdown today, looking to avenge two recent road losses to the Ospreys and punch their ticket to the Coastal Division Championship against Oak Island.  

“It doesn’t matter who they come out and throw against us,” Jernigan said of the upcoming matchup. “We’re gonna beat them, and we’re gonna be able to compete to the best of our ability and do what we need to do to take them down and move on to the next round.”

As the boys of summer head to Jacksonville, they’ll need your support as they battle the Ospreys for a spot in the division finals. First pitch is set for 6:30 PM today at Jack Amyette Park in Jacksonville. Can’t make the trip? Catch every pitch live on the Foul Pole Sports Network on the app or online at www.fpsn.watch. 

The playoff wave is building—ride with the Shwags through their postseason voyage!