Hickory Looks to Continue Strong Start in Kannapolis

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Interstat) — The Hickory Crawdads, off to an early season surge, will visit the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers on Tuesday night at Atrium Health Ballpark in the opener of a six-game series.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. under cloudy skies with temperatures around 62 degrees.

Hickory (2-1) enters having won two of three against Columbia, including a 5-2 victory Saturday. The Crawdads’ bullpen was dominant in that win, with AJ Russell, Louis Marinaro and Alejandro Chiquillo combining for five perfect innings of relief with seven strikeouts.

Russell, a key player to watch for Hickory, has been particularly sharp. On April 4, he fired two hitless innings with three strikeouts.

The Crawdads will hand the ball to right-hander Aneudis Mejia (0-1), who will look for his first win of the young season.

Kannapolis (1-2) is looking to rebound after a series loss to Hill City, though it ended on a high note with a 19-2 rout Saturday. Designated hitter Rylan Galvan powered that offensive explosion, going 2 for 3 with a home run and three RBIs. Galvan is a focal point for the Cannon Ballers’ lineup.

The Cannon Ballers’ pitching staff also found success in the blowout, as relievers Anthony Patterson III and Trey Cooper combined for five innings of two-hit ball with eight strikeouts.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, this contest projects to be a tight one, with a predicted final score of 5-4 in favor of Hickory.

The series will continue through Sunday at Atrium Health Ballpark before both teams embark on new series next week. Hickory will host Salem, while Kannapolis will hit the road to face Myrtle Beach.