Smooth Sailing for Shallywags heading into Final Week of June

SHALLOTTE, N.C—After a week of ups and downs, the Shallotte Shallywags are back on track and sailing into the final stretch of June with an 8–5 record, coming home on Wednesday, June 25th, with back-to-back impressive wins on the road. 

The Shallywags hosted the Hope Mills Rockfish for a doubleheader on Wednesday, June 18, with each game scheduled for seven innings. After dropping Game 1 in a 10–7 loss, Shallotte bounced back in a big way with a 12–3 win in the nightcap. Team stolen base leader Trey Pierce sparked the scoring with a steal of home in the first inning. A four-run second—highlighted by Payton Hankins’ two-run single and RBI hits from Angel Garrido and Branton Jernigan—gave the Shwags a 5–2 lead. Three more runs came home in the fourth on a single and an outfield error.

“He was gone for a little while, came back, and he started mashing the baseball,” said reliever Hunter Lohrli of Hankins’ return. “Good on him, good for us—I hope he keeps it going.”

Momentum stalled on Friday, June 20, in an 11–1 loss to the Sandhills Bogeys at home. Jude Morton put Shallotte on the board early with an RBI single to score Tate Morris, but the Bogeys answered with 10 runs across three innings, including a five-run fourth.

“We've got to be more focused when we come to the field,” Lohrli said. “We just need to go in and compete like we did last time, and hopefully get the same outcome.”

That outcome came on Saturday, as the Shallywags rolled past the Jacksonville Ospreys 20–4 on the road. Morton walked four times and scored twice, and Nikita Sutherland’s two-run double helped fuel a comeback in the sixth. The Shwags erupted for 12 runs in the ninth inning, drawing eight of their 15 total walks in the frame. Starter Ryder Whitacre struck out five over five innings, while Zach Steagall and Brent Avery held Jacksonville scoreless in relief.

“I was glad we came out and got the dub,” Avery said. “The guys performed well, drew good counts, didn’t chase pitches—we took what they gave us.”

The Shallywags carried that energy into Laurinburg, where they edged the Highland Hooligans 10–9 on Monday. Pierce led the offense with three hits, including an RBI triple in a five-run fourth. Garrido added two RBIs, while the team drew 10 walks and swiped six bases. Starter Dawson Ables struck out four over four innings, and Avery earned the save with two strikeouts in a tense ninth.

“If we can get him to keep coming in and doing his job like that, then we’re going to be good,” said Jacob Koenig, who scored three runs in the win.

The Shwags will look to continue their hot streak in Wednesday’s home rematch against Laurinburg. Fans can get their tickets at the gate at West Brunswick High School’s Mike Alderson Field or online at www.shallotteshallywags.com, and both games will be streamed live on the Foul Pole Sports Network at fpsn.watch.