OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Tobacco State League: A Summer With the Red Springs Red Robins

AZTarHeel · 06-25-2025, 02:23 PM

Second half starts on winning note for Red Robins
Red Springs rallies past Lumberton for wild 9-6 triumph

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern
June 25, 2025

Greetings readers, your faithful summer intern has returned after a little R&R at the Outer Banks (strongly recommend Sugar Shack Seafood Fish Market & Restaurant if you make the trip). Red Springs is back, too, coming off a break after wrapping up the first half of the season.

Boy, is this team back. Or better yet, maybe they have finally arrived. The Robins may be the hottest thing in baseball, winning their fourth straight Wednesday afternoon to continue their climb up the Tobacco State League standings.

The latest victim: the Lumberton Auctioneers. Red Springs erased an early 3-0 lead and swamped the fast-talkers 9-6. One victory, sold to the boys in the white jerseys with red trim!

If you'll remember, Lumberton swept Red Springs in three-straight to start the season. And don't think I didn't think history was going to repeat itself when the Auctioneers went up 3-zip in the top of the first. Our new pitcher Steve Brewington was shaky! But this is a different bunch than the one that launched in May.

The box score tells the story of a much improved team:

14 hits, including 10 from the first five spots in the order
Home runs from Ken Rogers (solo shot) and Eddie Locklear (pinch-hit blast in the 5th)
Two-out RBIs from Chris Wreede, Bruce Browning and Danny Abell
Steve Bowser going 3-for-5 with three runs
Justin Stubbs continuing to find his stroke (2-for-4 to raise his average to .278)

And the pitching wasn't too shabby either. Down a starter because of a season-ending injury, Red Springs found Brewington - undrafted and working at an auto body shop in his hometown of Rockwell. He gutted out five innings (9 hits, 6 earned runs) and did just enough to keep the Robins in contention.

The bullpen was flawless behind him. CJ Seth spun a perfect 5-pitch sixth inning. Bob Hoyle got the win with two innings of one-hit ball and Juan "The Wizard of 0's" Hartman closed it out with an eight-pitch ninth for his sixth save. Pure sorcery!

Yep, I'm back, with a nice tan and new lady friend that I met on the beach (her name is Anna!). And Red Springs baseball is back. This could be the best summer of our lives...

Next game: Lumberton (14-14) at Red Springs (16-12) | June 26 | 7:05 p.m. Come on out to The Nest. I'll be the sunburned guy with a camera around his neck, a reporter's notepad tucked into his shirt pocket and a pencil in his ear.

06-25-2025, 02:23 PM	#46
AZTarHeel All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,700	Second half starts on winning note for Red Robins Red Springs rallies past Lumberton for wild 9-6 triumph By Chase Murphy \| The Robesonian Summer Intern June 25, 2025 Greetings readers, your faithful summer intern has returned after a little R&R at the Outer Banks (strongly recommend Sugar Shack Seafood Fish Market & Restaurant if you make the trip). Red Springs is back, too, coming off a break after wrapping up the first half of the season. Boy, is this team back. Or better yet, maybe they have finally arrived. The Robins may be the hottest thing in baseball, winning their fourth straight Wednesday afternoon to continue their climb up the Tobacco State League standings. The latest victim: the Lumberton Auctioneers. Red Springs erased an early 3-0 lead and swamped the fast-talkers 9-6. One victory, sold to the boys in the white jerseys with red trim! If you'll remember, Lumberton swept Red Springs in three-straight to start the season. And don't think I didn't think history was going to repeat itself when the Auctioneers went up 3-zip in the top of the first. Our new pitcher Steve Brewington was shaky! But this is a different bunch than the one that launched in May. The box score tells the story of a much improved team: 14 hits, including 10 from the first five spots in the order Home runs from Ken Rogers (solo shot) and Eddie Locklear (pinch-hit blast in the 5th) Two-out RBIs from Chris Wreede, Bruce Browning and Danny Abell Steve Bowser going 3-for-5 with three runs Justin Stubbs continuing to find his stroke (2-for-4 to raise his average to .278) And the pitching wasn't too shabby either. Down a starter because of a season-ending injury, Red Springs found Brewington - undrafted and working at an auto body shop in his hometown of Rockwell. He gutted out five innings (9 hits, 6 earned runs) and did just enough to keep the Robins in contention. The bullpen was flawless behind him. CJ Seth spun a perfect 5-pitch sixth inning. Bob Hoyle got the win with two innings of one-hit ball and Juan "The Wizard of 0's" Hartman closed it out with an eight-pitch ninth for his sixth save. Pure sorcery! Yep, I'm back, with a nice tan and new lady friend that I met on the beach (her name is Anna!). And Red Springs baseball is back. This could be the best summer of our lives... Next game: Lumberton (14-14) at Red Springs (16-12) \| June 26 \| 7:05 p.m. Come on out to The Nest. I'll be the sunburned guy with a camera around his neck, a reporter's notepad tucked into his shirt pocket and a pencil in his ear. __________________ Current Dynasties Baseball's Rebirth in the Old North State (1945-) The Tobacco State League: A Summer With the Red Springs Red Robins From the Way-Back Machine (WAY old dynasty stories): The Steve Victory Story: Tournament Dreams College Basketball! Baseball In The Tar Heel State: A Fictional Experience The Arizona League: Real Players. Fictional Teams Last edited by AZTarHeel; 06-25-2025 at 02:25 PM.