The Tobacco State League: A Summer With the Red Springs Red Robins

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Murphy's Law: Red Robins Flying High into Clinton Showdown
By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern | June 14, 2025

Don’t look now, but the Red Springs Red Robins are above .500, and the feathers are puffing up just in time for their biggest test of the season.

After sweeping Smithfield-Selma — including a pair of shutouts — the Robins (11-10) have clawed their way back into the mix and are playing their best baseball of the summer. Now, they’ll take flight into a weekend showdown at first-place Clinton (14-7), beginning Saturday night in what feels like a statement series.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: Game 1 features a tough customer. Clinton ace Mike “Winnie” Smith, he of the baffling knuckleball and even more baffling 1.08 ERA, gets the ball. Smith (pictured above) is 4-0 with 24 strikeouts and only two walks, making him arguably the most effective arm in the league.

But don’t count out the boys from RobCo just yet. In the last week alone, Red Springs logged three shutouts, got two complete-game gems (from Shane D’Ovidio and Dan McSwain), and saw the offense come alive behind a surging top of the order.

Chris Wreede (.396 AVG) homered and tripled on Wednesday. Steve Bowser and Bruce Browning both left the yard during the homestand, and Ken “Wee Davy” Rogers legged out a triple. The Robins plated nine runs on Thursday and followed it with a 3-0 Friday night win, as McSwain struck out nine in a dominant outing.

That’s five wins in seven games, folks. And even the blemishes — two close losses to Sanford — featured competitive at-bats and late chances.

Still, it’s not all sunshine. Red Springs took a gut punch with the loss of Estevan Hernandez, the crafty righty with a 1.77 ERA, now out for the year (Tommy John). Add in a nagging hamstring injury to second baseman Mario Sanchez, and the Robins’ depth is under pressure.

The response? A little grit and a lot of gumption. Red Springs signed Steve Brewington, a clubhouse favorite but not exactly known for his lights-out stuff. The scouting report? Great guy. Leaky fastball. But hey, sometimes belief trumps velocity.

Manager Elijah Crabtree, ever the tinkerer, has been letting his starters stretch deeper into games to keep the bullpen fresh. And right now, it’s working.

Bottom line: If this is a team on the rise, we’ll find out this weekend. Clinton is legit. Mike “Winnie” Smith is legit. But momentum is real, too — and Red Springs is bringing some.

First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Saturday in Clinton. Bring a glove, bring a chair, and bring a little Red Robins pride. This one might have fireworks.

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The Birds Gave Clinton the Blues — Restivo Outduels Winnie as Robins Keep Rising

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern | June 15, 2025

CLINTON — In front of a packed house, under bright skies and brighter expectations, Clinton’s undefeated ace Mike “Winnie” Smith was supposed to do what he always does: chew up innings and shut down hope.

Instead, he just got chewed up.

The Red Springs Red Robins, winners of five of their last seven, rolled into Clinton on Saturday and walked out with a statement win, blanking the first-place Blues 3-0 behind a two-hit gem from Luke Restivo and a fearless offensive attack that finally cracked the code on the league’s most hyped arm.

Let’s just say it: Clinton might be a paper tiger.

Restivo, calm as a church pew in August, outdueled the vaunted Smith with nine innings of surgical precision: 107 pitches, 76 strikes, six Ks, and only two hits allowed. The Blues barely made solid contact all day.

Meanwhile, Clinton left Smith out to dry. The knuckleballer threw a jaw-dropping 151 pitches (yes, 151) and batted in the 9th inning despite the Blues trailing 3-0. No pinch hitter. No bullpen help. Just vibes and... well, not much else.

“He’s tough, no doubt,” said Red Springs skipper Elijah Crabtree. “But you can’t float butterflies past us all day and not expect us to swat a few. I’ll take my guys’ grit over smoke and mirrors.”

Danny Abell’s two-out double in the sixth lit the fuse. Josh Fleisher and Shane Hangen followed with clutch RBIs, and just like that, Clinton was chasing a deficit with a tired starter. A crowd of 5,452 got a front-row seat to their team’s unraveling.

Even Smith’s teammates looked gassed. While Clinton may lead the standings, the Robins have now faced nearly everyone — and Lumberton, Rockingham and Sanford all looked more dangerous. More pop. More depth. More answers.

Meanwhile, Red Springs (12-10) keeps climbing. The rotation is clicking. The top of the lineup is rolling. And if you’re sleeping on this squad? Don’t. Not now.

Game 2 is Monday. Clinton’s in a corner. The Robins? They’re just getting started.

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Red Robins can't hold momentum at Clinton
Blues hand Red Springs back-to-back close losses

Staff Reports | The Robesonian

Red Springs silenced Clinton's ace in the first game of a three-game road series. But the Red Robins couldn't sustain momentum in the next two meetings.

The Robins dropped back down to a .500 record (12-12) with a 4-2 loss on Sunday and a 4-3 defeat in 10 innings the following afternoon.

Once again, it was a case of what-could-have-been. Red Springs battled the league leading Blues (16-8) fiercely through every inning but couldn't overcome 15 stranded base-runners, untimely walks and errors at the worst possible times.

With the game tied 2-2 in Monday's series finale, Red Springs had runners in scoring position with one out in both the seventh and eighth innings. But the Robins couldn't move the runners past second base.

Mike Adams singled to lead off the top of the 10th and moved to second on a sac bunt. But Justin Stubbs and Ken Rogers left him hanging. Clinton's Bobby Shelton then drove home the winning run with a double to the fence in the bottom of the 10th.

So close, yet so far away.

After a day off, Red Springs will close out its first loop through the league with a three-game series at home against the Angier-Fuquay Springs Bulls (14-10).

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June 18-20 | Robbins Stadium | Red Springs

Murphy’s Law: The Robins Can Hang — But Can They Fly?
By Chase Murphy | “Murphy’s Law” Column | The Robesonian Summer Intern

Twelve up. Twelve down. A dead-even 12–12 record through 24 games, with three to go to close out the first loop through the league schedule.

If you’re a Red Springs fan, you probably don’t know whether to smile or scream. Welcome to life in the middle — close enough to see the mountaintop, yet still squinting through the clouds.

This weekend’s series against Clinton was a microcosm of the entire Red Robins season: a thunderous 3-0 win in Game 1 that turned heads across the league, followed by a pair of winnable-but-wasted losses that dropped Red Springs right back into the crowd.

And that’s the problem. Red Springs is good — sometimes really good. But if there’s a gear beyond scrappy and streaky, we haven’t seen it yet.

The Good News
The bats have bite. Chris Wreede leads the league with 19 RBIs and is hitting .353. Steve Bowser has been flexing (.306, 5 HR, 15 RBIs), Bruce Browning keeps finding grass, and Josh Fleisher — our unsung hero in the 8-spot — has a quiet 10-game hit streak that deserves more noise.

On the mound, the trio of Shane D’Ovidio, Dan McSwain and Luke Restivo has settled in. D’Ovidio gets the ball in Game 1 against Angier-Fuquay Springs and has earned his way into the conversation with a 3-1 record. McSwain (3-0, 2.36 ERA) is cool, calm and collect. Restivo (2-3, 2.83) already gave Clinton fits last week and will close the series.

The Bad News
We’re in fifth place. Again.

And this isn’t the kind of fifth where you're surging. It’s the kind of fifth where you’re hanging on, looking up, and muttering about what could’ve been if a few bloops fell in, if a few arms hadn’t tired, and if Clinton hadn’t gone full Terminator in Game 3.

This next series? It matters. A lot.

Angier-Fuquay Springs sits at 14-10, tied with Whiteville for third and very much within striking distance of the top. They’ve got a real bullpen (closer Chris Parlato, eight saves, five hits allowed all season) and a thumper in Billy Moore (.312, 6 HR, 16 RBIs). Jason Roberts (4-1, 2.97) is a top-shelf ace with pinpoint command. This isn’t a club that beats itself.

But here’s the thing — neither are we. At least, not anymore. This version of Red Springs? They grind. They stretch starters. They hit in bunches. And they’ve taken body blows without going down.

Three games left before the loop resets. Three chances to shake the “yeah-but” label:
* Yeah, they beat Clinton… but dropped the series.
* Yeah, Wreede’s raking… but the lineup disappears some nights.
* Yeah, the starters have been great… but the bullpen’s still a question mark.

So which way does it break?

This is it — your moment, Robins. Time to soar or settle. The floodgates haven’t opened yet… but the dam’s cracking.

Murphy’s Take:
If Red Springs can take 2 of 3 from Angier, they’ll head into the back half of the season within shouting distance of the top and, more importantly, with belief. Drop the set, and they’re staring down the classic “just missed it” season.

I still think this team has a run in it. But it’s now or never...


Angier-Fuquay Springs ace pitcher, Jason Roberts

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Red Springs completes sweep of Angier-Fuquay Springs

The inaugural Red Springs baseball season began with the team getting swept in its very first series.

The Red Robins’ first loop through the Tobacco State League schedule has come to an end with a complete reversal of fortunes. Red Springs swept its last opponent in three straight. What a turnaround!

Elijah Crabtree’s boys played some of their best baseball to date, knocking out a scrappy Angier-Fuquay Springs squad 7-4, 4-0 and 3-1 on consecutive nights at The Nest.

The result left Red Springs 15-12 at the turn – tied for third place with the Whiteville Tobs. The Robins went 9-3 at home during that stretch and sit just one game out of second-place Clinton and three behind league-leading Sanford.

Some details from the most recent triumphs:

Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Red Springs 7, Angier-Fuquay Springs 4: Outfielder Justin Stubbs, who started the year 1-for-20, went 4-for-5 in this one, stroking two doubles and two singles. He scored three times. Danny Abell cleared the bases with a double in the third. Shane D’Ovidio picked up the victory from the mound.

Thursday, June 19, 2025
Red Springs 4, Angier-Fuquay Springs 0: The Red Robins’ ace, Dan McSwain, dealt a complete-game, seven-hit shutout. The Charlotte native improved his record to 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA. Steve Bowser and Bruce Browning both homered for the Robins.

Friday, June 20, 2025
Red Springs 3, Angier-Fuquay Springs 1: Justin Stubbs beat out an inside-the-park home run in the fourth inning, while Jeremy Wilkinson and Bruce Browning hit solo shots out of the yard. Luke Restivo upped his record to 3-3 with the pitching victory.

On Deck
Tobacco State League teams will take a break for a few days, and then will begin round two of the schedule Monday, June 23. For Red Springs that means a rematch with Lumberton – the same team that knocked them around in three-straight at the outset of the season. This series will be at The Nest and revenge will be top of mind for the Red Robins.

The Auctioneers have been solid, though not spectacular, through the opening half, posting a 14-13 record.

Tobacco League Standings at the Halfway Point
Sanford Spinners 18-9
Clinton Blues 16-11
Red Springs Red Robins 15-12
Whiteville Tobs 15-12
Angier-Fuquay Springs 14-13
Lumberton Auctioneers 14-13
Warsaw Red Sox 13-14
Rockingham Eagles 12-15
Dunn-Erwin Twins 9-18
Smithfield-Selma Leafs 9-18

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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.

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Going once. Going twice. Robins beat Auctioneers again
Red Springs defeats Lumberton 3-1

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern
June 26, 2025

A three-run outburst in the fifth inning was all Red Springs needed to collect its second-straight win over Lumberton.

Steve Bowser drove in a pair, while pitcher Dave Colvin handcuffed batters most of the night in the Red Robins' 3-1 win over the visiting Auctioneers.

After an 0-4 start to the season, which included three straight defeats to Lumberton, Red Springs is now 17-12 overall, which includes an 11-3 record at home.

Colvin pitched seven solid innings (4 hits allowed, 6Ks) to improve to 1-1. Juan Hartman earned his seventh save.

Red Springs looks to close out the series tomorrow night, June 27, at 7:05 p.m.

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Red-hot Red Robins complete sweep of Lumberton
Can anyone stop this team? Win streak reaches six

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern
June 27, 2025

Remember back in May when we just wanted Red Springs to get a timely hit, secure a bullpen out and, if possible, actually win a game?

Then remember a few weeks later when we just wanted to see if the Red Robins could scrape back to .500 after such an ugly start?

My how things have changed. After Red Springs' 4-3 triumph over Lumberton on Friday night - the team's sixth win in a row and 10th in 12 outings - can we start wondering whether this team actually has the muster to win the whole darn thing?

Red Springs moved into second place in the Tobacco State League standings with its latest triumph, improving to 18-12 overall. Only the 20-10 Sanford Spinners look better in the win-loss columns.

The latest heroes? A couple of reserves who made the most of their chance to shine: Catcher Mike Adams (2-for-2 with an RBI triple) and Eddie Locklear (2-for-4 with what happened to be the game-winning RBI double in the eighth).

If you recognize the last name, yes Locklear is the grandson of Red Springs owner Kyle Locklear. But you can put to rest any thoughts of nepotism playing a role in getting the soon-to-be 20-year-old on the Robins' active roster. The younger Locklear boasts a .368 average with two home runs and two doubles in his limited role, which lately has included starts against left-handed pitching.

Red Springs will go back on the road starting Saturday night, facing Whiteville (17-13) in the first of a three-game set. We'll be traveling with the team for this crucial series (can't miss a game now) and will provide full reports.

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Murphy's Law: Red Springs Has an Ace — And His Name Is McSwain

By Chase Murphy | Red Springs Beat Writer (and, yeah, I’ll admit it: McSwain fan club treasurer)

Let’s go ahead and retire the question: Is Red Springs for real?

The Red Robins’ 2-1 win over Whiteville on Saturday night wasn’t flashy, and it didn’t come with a dramatic walk-off or some wild ninth-inning rally. But if you’ve been paying attention — and by now, I hope you are — this team has done the one thing that separates contenders from everybody else: they take care of business.

Red Springs has now won seven straight games and 11 of its last 13. That’s not a hot streak — that’s a full-on identity. And the beating heart of it all? A 22-year-old right-hander from Charlotte named Dan “Grayson” McSwain, who tossed his third complete game of the season and improved to 5-0.

"He's a grown man out there," manager Elijah Crabtree said, trying to act like this is normal. "Every fifth day, we know we’ve got a real shot.”

McSwain scattered six hits, struck out seven, walked one and gave up one run — the first run he’s allowed in four starts. For those keeping score at home, that’s a 30-inning scoreless streak that just got snapped. The ERA? A robust 1.72

“He doesn’t just set the tone,” said catcher Shane Hangen, who helped his pitcher Saturday with an RBI single. “He is the tone.”

This is the same Red Springs team that opened the year 0-4 and couldn’t seem to get a clean inning out of anyone not named “stretch-the-starter.” Remember that? I do. I wrote about it. And I wasn’t exactly kind. But here we are — 19-12, one game out of first, breathing down Sanford’s neck with a roster full of guys who play like their bats are on fire and their arms are made of steel cable.

Let’s not forget how this all started. When the inaugural Tobacco State League draft rolled around, the Robins could’ve followed the crowd and chased a flashy bat. Instead, Crabtree and GM Kyle Locklear looked around and said, “Nah. We want the guy who wins every fifth day.”

So they took McSwain. Fourth overall. And everyone else has been playing catch-up ever since.

“We knew the other teams were eyeing hitters,” Crabtree said. “But Dan was on the board, and we didn’t hesitate. He was a Red Robin the minute his name came up.”

McSwain isn’t just overpowering. He works fast. He throws strikes. He gives the defense a breather. And when he walks off the mound, he does it like he’s already thinking about his next start. No chest-pounding. No theatrics. Just a quiet nod and a box score that does the talking.

And yeah, I know — I’m not supposed to be too biased in this gig. But if I have to cover another Red Springs win with McSwain on the mound, I might just wear a cape and start a one-man fan section behind home plate.

The Red Robins are flying high — and with No. 57 on the mound, they might not be landing anytime soon.

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It's been several days since I last posted. I have continued to play games daily, and it has been feast or famine for the Red Springs Red Robins since my last update.

THE GOOD
- An 8-game winning streak! The Red Robins spent the back half of June sweeping Angier-Fuquay Springs and Lumberton, and winning the first two games against Whiteville. Everything was clicking and Red Springs jumped to 20-12 overall, just a few games out of first-place Sanford.

- Ace right-hander Dan McSwain earned pitcher of the month for June, improving his record to 5-0 with a 1.72 ERA.

- First-baseman Steve Bowser upped his batting average to .333, second best in the league. Bowser's 23 RBIs are second-best also.

THE BAD
- A three-game losing streak. Red Springs had the chance for a ninth-straight win but let Whiteville slip away 5-4 in 10 innings. Justin Maher hit a solo homer in the bottom of the 10th to help the Tobs. The Robins left outfielder Ken Rogers stranded at third in the top of the ninth.

- Second baseman Mario Sanchez had a setback on his comeback from a hamstring injury. He's only played sparingly the past few weeks but our docs recommend he sit out entirely until he shows marked improvement.

- Our No. 5 pitcher, Steve Brewington, had an absolutely awful outing in a 12-1 loss to Warsaw. He couldn't throw strikes and the ones he threw got hit hard. Reliever David Hayes also got rocked in that game. Red Springs finished the game with first baseman Scott Ward on the mound. He gave up multiple homers but why waste pitching on a game that is already in the tank.

BACK IN THE SWING
Red Springs stopped the bleeding with a 5-1 win over Warsaw on July 3 (today). Warsaw scored in the first inning, but Dan McSwain calmed down from there to improve to 6-0. McSwain helped his own cause with an RBI double (!). Danny Abell drove home two with a triple that rolled past the outfielders and to the fence.

JULY 4TH WEEKEND
Red Springs (21-15) will go on the road for a three-game series vs. the Rockingham Eagles (15-21) on Friday, Saturday, Sunday. With Sanford (23-13) still ahead by two games -- and Whiteville (20-16), Clinton (20-16), Angier-Fuquay Springs (19-17) and Warsaw (19-17) breathing down their necks -- the Robins really need to win this series.

Luke Restivo (4-3), Dave Colvin (1-1) and Shane D'Ovidio (4-2) are expected to take the bump for Red Springs.

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Red Springs Puts On Fourth of July Fireworks Show, Beats Rockingham

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian | Summer Intern
July 4, 2025

Red Springs had the fireworks. The rest of the Tobacco State League's front-runners did not.

The Red Robins pounded out 13 hits, including a triple and a double from Chris Wreede, and surged past Rockingham 6-3 on the Fourth of July.

The win - combined with losses by Sanford, Whiteville, Angier-Fuquay Springs and Clinton - left Red Springs just one game out of first place with two-and-a-half weeks left in the regular season.

The Robins survived despite an up-and-down performance from pitcher Luke Restivo, who allowed two home runs to Rockingham third-baseman Willie Cordova.

Both Wreede and Justin Stubbs finished with two hits and three RBIs. Danny Abell was 3-for-4 with a run scored. Reliever Bill Lane recorded his eighth hold, while closer Juan Hartman earned his ninth save.

Next Game
Red Springs will face Rockingham in game two of their three-game series on Saturday, July 5. Dave Colvin (1-1) is expected to start for the Red Robins.

Fourth of July Scoreboard | Tobacco State League
Red Springs 6, Rockingham 3
Smithfield-Selma 3, Whiteville 1
Lumberton 3, Clinton 0
Dunn-Erwin 6, Angier-Fuquay Springs 3
Warsaw 5, Sanford 1

Tobacco State League Standings | After July 4
Sanford 23-14
Red Springs 22-15
Clinton 20-17
Warsaw 20-17
Whiteville 20-17
Angier-Fuquay Springs 19-18
Lumberton 18-19
Rockingham 15-22
Smithfield-Selma 14-23
Dunn-Erwin 14-23

Remaining Series for Red Springs
AWAY - Rockingham (2 games): July 5-6
HOME - Dunn-Erwin (3 games): July 7-9
**HOME - Sanford (3 games): July 11-13**
AWAY - Smithfield-Selma (3 games): July 14-16
*HOME - Clinton (3 games): July 17-19*
AWAY - Angier-Fuquay Springs): July 20-22

Can Red Springs win the regular season?

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Rockingham roughs up Red Robins

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern | July 5

Fourth of July hangover? Maybe. Red Springs pitcher Dave Colvin had his worst performance of the season, and the Red Robins suffered a 7-3 loss at Rockingham on Saturday.

Colvin gave up six runs before being pulled in the second inning. While the Robins' usually shaky bullpen gave a strong outing - just three hits and a run surrendered over the final six frames - Red Springs didn't produce nearly enough offense to rally.

Rockingham second baseman Larry Fette carried the biggest bat for the Eagles. He hit a home run and scored twice.

Game three between the Red Robins and Eagles will come Sunday, July 6 at Rockingham

Tobacco State League Scores | July 5
Rockingham 7, Red Springs 3
Whiteville 5, Smithfield-Selma 4
Warsaw 2, Sanford 1
Lumberton 7, Clinton 1
Angier-Fuquay Springs 4, Dunn-Erwin 3

Red Springs (22-16) still just one game off the TSL leading pace set by Sanford (23-15)

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Catching up with the Red Robins

Have been playing for the past week. Haven't been posting. With 10 games left in the regular season, the Tobacco State League has become a jumbled mess.



Technically, no one has been eliminated. Sanford has been in the TSL lead for weeks, but Red Springs pulled within a game after beating the Spinners twice on July 11-12. The Red Robins could forge a tie at the top with a sweep in Sunday's series finale. Warsaw and Whiteville are looming, though. Lumberton and Clinton, too.

Recent Red Springs scores (It's been an up-and-down ride)
July 6 - Rockingham 9, Red Springs 2
July 7 - Dunn-Erwin 4, Red Springs 3
July 8 - Red Springs 4, Dunn-Erwin 2
July 9 - Dunn-Erwin 4, Red Springs 1
July 10 - off
July 11 - Red Springs 6, Sanford 1
July 12 - Red Springs 7, Sanford 2

Impressed with Red Springs the past two games. Pitchers Dave Colvin and Shane D'Ovidio were sharp. The offense came alive - home runs from Chris Wreede and reserve left fielder Mike Tyler. Twenty-five hits in two games against the top team in the league.

Should be a fun stretch run! Or a maddening one. Remember, all 10 teams make the playoffs. The top six get a bye from the "wildcard" series.

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Danny Abell carries a hot bat when men are in scoring position. Abell hit a home run and had 3 RBIs in Sunday's win over Sanford

Willing and Abell: Red Springs Clobbers Sanford Again
Danny Abell's Clutch Hits, Dan McSwain's Pitching Gem Lift Red Robins to Series Sweep

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern | Sunday, July 13, 2025

The race is on for the first Tobacco State League pennant, and Red Springs finds itself right in the thick of the action.

The Red Robins battered Sanford for the third day in a row, drilling the Spinners 7-1 on Sunday. Mike Tyler hit a three-run homer. Danny Abell finished 2-for-3 with another moon shot. Ken Rogers and Justin Stubbs each tripled and drove home runs. And best of all, ace pitcher Dan McSwain bumped his league-leading record to 8-0 with another gem from the hill.

McSwain gave up an early run but otherwise kept Sanford’s bats eerily quiet. The Spinners went 0-for-12 in the first three spots in the order and 2-for-20 over the first five. Andy Jensrud, arguably the best player in the league (he was the No. 1 draft pick), went 0-for-4 with two Ks.

Abell has a pedestrian batting average overall at .261 compared to league leaders. But he locks in when Red Springs teammates get into scoring position. Abell batted home three runs on Sunday, boasting his season tally to 23.

Over the three-game series, Red Springs outscored Sanford 20-4. The Robins latest victory – combined with Whiteville’s 3-2 win over Angier-Fuquay Springs – left things crowded at the top. Red Springs, Sanford and Whiteville all have 26-19 records. The regular season chase may come down to a photo finish.

Tobacco State League Scoreboard | Sunday, July 13
Red Springs 7, Sanford 1
Clinton 4, Warsaw 2
Smithfield-Selma 10, Rockingham 1
Lumberton 8, Dunn-Erwin 4
Whiteville 3, Angier-Fuquay Springs 2

Tobacco State League Standings after 7/13
Red Springs 26-19
Sanford 26-19
Whiteville 26-19
Warsaw 24-21
Clinton 23-22
Lumberton 23-22
Angier-Fuquay Springs 21-24
Smithfield-Selma 19-26
Dunn-Erwin 19-26
Rockingham 18-27

What’s Left for Red Springs
July 14-16: at Smithfield-Selma
July 17-19: Clinton
July 20-22: at Angier-Fuquay Springs

Be sure to read The Robesonian in the days ahead to follow Red Springs' chase for the TSL pennant!

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Red Springs bats go missing
Smithfield-Selma pitcher Eric Kimball strikes out 9, Red Robins win streak ends

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern | Monday, July 14

Red Springs' time at the top of the Tobacco State League standings was short-lived.

One day after sweeping Sanford to forge a three-way for first place, the Red Robins went silent in a 5-0 loss to Smithfield-Selma. The Leafs held Red Springs to just five hits. This was only the second time this season, the Robins failed to bring a run across the plate.

Smithfield-Selma pitcher Eric Kimball stole the show, fanning nine Red Robins and allowing only four hits. He had been 0-4 heading into Monday's match-up. Luke Restivo took the loss for Red Springs, falling to 5-5 on the season.

"There was nothing to like about today," Robins manager Elijah Crabtree muttered while walking out of the locker room. "Sometimes this team is maddening. Guys just disappear. I don't get it..."

Game two of the series with the Leafs will come Tuesday at 7:05 p.m.

Tobacco State League Scoreboard | Monday, July 14
Smithfield-Selma 5, Red Springs 0
Rockingham 7, Clinton 4
Warsaw 9, Angier-Fuquay Springs 0
Lumberton 4, Whiteville 3
Sanford 6, Dunn-Erwin 1

Tobacco State League Standings after 7/14
Sanford 27-19
Red Springs 26-20
Whiteville 26-20
Warsaw 25-21
Lumberton 24-22
Clinton 23-23
Angier-Fuquay Springs 21-25
Smithfield-Selma 20-26
Dunn-Erwin 19-27
Rockingham 19-27

* Eight games left in the regular season ... All 10 teams make the playoffs ... The top six get first-round byes ...

[AZTarHeel]

Another one slips away for Red Springs
Smithfield-Selma scores with two outs in the ninth to beat Red Robins, 3-2

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern | Tuesday, July 15

I had the story read to go. The magical tale of a pitcher no one had ever heard coming in to play the hero for Red Springs in place of an injured star.

But then the hero-to-be walked a guy with two outs. Then he gave up one bad hit to a scrub. And then Red Springs didn't have an answer on offense. And then the bullpen started acting like the shaky staff from early in the season.

Alas, now I'm sitting here in a musty press box in Smithfield just before 11 p.m. on a Tuesday night -- hungry, angry and frankly nauseous -- writing about another Red Springs heartbreak. Just when the division lead was there for the taking again. Just when Sanford lost again.

The basics: Smithfield-Selma 3, Red Springs 2.
The Leafs scored the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Usually reliable setup man Bill Lane walked the bases loaded after striking out the side on eight pitches in the eighth. Manager Elijah Crabtree hesitated about taking Lane out.

At first, he was going to leave him in. They he changed his mind and called for Matt Brooks out of the dugout. On a 3-2 count, Smithfield-Selma's Joe Salerno stroked a single through the left side. It would have been a ball anyways. Game over.

So what about this almost hero for Red Springs?
His name is Kyle Blankenhorn. He's from Tarboro. He's 29 years old (so this will be his last year of eligibility to play in the Tobacco State League) and he didn't get drafted back in the spring. No one picked him during spring training or after the season started or as the weeks clicked off into July.

I'm still not sure how Red Springs found him to be honest. Something about him bussing tables at Waffle House in Tarboro and playing church league softball on Friday nights. But with two starters down due to injury - one for the season and one for the next week with back spasms - the Red Robins were desperate for anyone who could eat innings. And suddenly Blankenhorn appeared on today's lineup card in the 9 hole.

He was Paul Skenes incarnate in the first inning. Three up. Three down. Three strikeouts. Blankenhorn got through the next three innings with no damage. I started mentally preparing my hero narrative with the score Red Springs 2, Smithfield-Selma 0. Surely the Robins would add a few more scores, and the bullpen would close things out.

Then in the bottom of the fifth, Blankenhorn gave up a leadoff single to Chad Savine, and I got a bad feeling. But the Robins got the next two outs and just needed to retire Leafs pitcher Brent Duffy to wrap up the inning. The pitcher! I smiled. I shouldn't have.

Blankenhorn lost him on five pitches. Mike Mowery, his batting average a mere .167 on the season, stepped to the plate. I knew he was going to impersonate Pete Alonso (who had just hit a three-run HR in the All-Star Game playing on TVs in the press box). I just knew it. Sure enough, Mowery bashed a line-drive triple to the fence (he'll probably never hit a ball that hard again). Two runs in. Tie game. Me erasing draft one of my story and opening a new document on the laptop.

Red Springs never really threated again, the bullpen collapsed in the ninth and well, did I mention that I was nauseous?

Tobacco State League scoreboard | July 15
Smithfield-Selma 3, Red Springs 2
Warsaw 6, Angier-Fuquay Springs 2
Dunn-Erwin 5, Sanford 2
Clinton 9, Rockingham 4
Lumberton 5, Whiteville 0

Tobacco State League standings | 7 games to play
Sanford 27-20
Red Springs 26-21
Warsaw 26-21
Whiteville 26-21
Lumberton 25-22
Clinton 24-23
Smithfield-Selma 21-26
Angier-Fuquay Springs 21-26
Dunn-Erwin 20-27
Rockingham 19-28

Next Up For Red Springs
Game 3 vs. Smithfield-Selma | July 16
Red Robins pitcher TBD. Maybe Blankenhorn's church league teammate.

[AZTarHeel]

By Chase Murphy | The Robesonian Summer Intern | Wednesday, July 16

We'll just leave this right here.

Yes, Red Springs won its series finale against Smithfield-Selma on Wednesday, grinding out a 3-1 triumph.

But the real story in the Tobacco State League is that with six games to play, we have FOUR TEAMS tied for first place. Sanford's loss today, combined with Whiteville's win and Warsaw's triumph has created a very crowded penthouse suite in the TSL standings. Never seen anything like this before, with 5 or 6 teams with genuine chances to finish on top.

Red Springs tops the list for now only by virtue of the alphabet. Some takeaways from today's triumph over the Leafs of Smithfield-Selma:

• Reliever George Youngblood was solid in his role as emergency starter, throwing six solid innings for his first win.
• John Griffis recorded a pinch-hit double for what would be the winning run in the seventh inning.
• Josh Fleisher went 2-for-4 and stroked his first homer of the season.
• Juan "Wizard of 0's" Hartman picked up his 10th save with a clean ninth inning.
• Injuries continue to bite the Red Robins. First baseman Steve Bowser took a tumble sliding into a base and had to leave the game. His status going forward is uncertain. Some type of upper body injury.
• Team trainers told us that starting pitcher Dave Colvin, out for a week with back spasms, won't be ready for at least another five days.

Tobacco State League Scoreboard | Wednesday, July 16
Red Springs 3, Smithfield-Selma 1
Dunn-Erwin 7, Sanford 4
Whiteville 3, Lumberton 1
Rockingham 6, Clinton 1
Warsaw 2, Angier-Fuquay Springs 1

Next Series for Red Springs
Clinton at Red Springs (July 17-19)

[AZTarHeel]

Tobacco State League Standings after July 19 games

Clinton gives Red Springs the Blues
Red Robins lose two out of three in penultimate regular season series

The Robesonian | Staff Reports | Saturday, July 19, 2025

Mathematically, Red Springs can still win the Tobacco State League regular season. Realistically, that opportunity likely slipped away over the weekend against Clinton.

Clinton took two out of three games against the homestanding Red Robins, and now Red Springs sits two games out with three to play. The Robins are once again struggling to string together hits, much like the early days of the season.

The only player carrying a heavy bat right now is ace pitcher Dan McSwain, who helped his own cause with a single, double and a run scored in Friday's 5-2 win over the Blues. Otherwise, the Red Springs offense has been mostly anemic.

Red Springs lost Thursday's opener 3-2 and dropped Saturday's finale 5-1.

Here are the final series of the regular season, which will take place from Sunday through Tuesday, July 20-22.

Red Springs at Angier-Fuquay Springs
Sanford at Clinton
Whiteville at Warsaw
Dunn-Erwin at Smithfield-Selma
Lumberton at Rockingham

On paper, Red Springs has the potential to sweep its final series. Angier-Fuquay Springs has lost nine of the last 10 and maybe have thrown in the towel mentally.

But the Robins are pretty battered and bruised right now too.

• No. 3 pitcher Dave Colvin is still day-to-day with back spasms.
• No. 4 pitcher Estevan Hernandez has been out since mid-June with a rotator cuff injury.
• The Robins shut down lefty setup man Matt Brooks for the season because of oblique issues.
• Reliever Dane O'Farrell had a serious asthma attack a few days ago and hasn't been available.
• First baseman and cleanup hitter Steve Bowser has been left off the lineup card for the past three games because of abdominal issues.
• They are just now getting second baseman Mario Sanchez back. He's been limited for more than a month with hamstring woes.

No one is quite sure who will start on the mound in Sunday's series opener in Angier. Dave Colvin is the only starter fully rested, and manager Elijah Crabtree said he was "95 percent" that he's not risking further injury to Colvin with the playoffs on deck.

[AZTarHeel]

Reader Poll: Can Red Springs win the Tobacco State League championship?

By Chase Murphy | Summer Intern | The Robesonian | July 20, 2025

I'll admit it, when I signed on as a summer intern at The Robesonian and they gave me the Red Springs baseball beat, I was disappointed. You see, our humble little publication is located in Lumberton, and the Auctioneers are considered the No. 1 team in our readership area. Everyone in our building thought the Auctioneers would be the flagstaff team in the league, and the Springs would bring up the rear.

Red Springs is about 20 miles to the north and west of our offices. Even though it makes sense that longtime sports editor Ben Swift would get the hometown Auctioneers beat, I felt relegated to the also-ran franchise.

Well, the Robins have proved a lot of people wrong this summer (including me), and even though I am already getting gray hairs (for real!) from the stress this team has caused me, I am glad in the end that the Red Robins beat fell to me. I have an endless scrapbook of memories, and I've watched some great baseball (pitcher Dan McSwain -- 9-0 record -- is the REAL DEAL!).

So now, I ask you fair reader, as the regular season draws to a close: Can Red Springs actually win the championship? They've proven they can hang with anyone (sweeping league-leading Sanford recently). But they've also proven they can disappear in key moments as well.

I think they've got the pieces, but let us know what YOU think. Sound off: Will the inaugural TSL championship banner be coming to Red Springs? If not the Robins, then who? Surely not the Auctioneers! Sorry, Ben. Hope I still have a job when this goes to press.

Thanks for reading if you've made it this far! -- Chase Murphy

[AZTarHeel]

Hometown star pitches gem, Red Springs cruises past Angier-Fuquay Springs
Jake Ryker makes most of opportunity as emergency starter

Chase Murphy | Summer Intern | The Robesonian | July 20, 2025

You can't get much more local than Red Springs pitcher Jake Ryker.

Born here. Raised here. Dad owns Ryker Hardware on Main Street. Played three sports for Red Springs High. Homecoming King. Married his high school sweetheart. Returned to Red Springs after four years at Appalachian State. Volunteer pitching coach for the Red Springs High baseball program the past couple of seasons in addition to running his own landscape business, Ryker's Red Springs Lawn Care.

When news broke that Red Springs would field a team in the relaunch of the Tobacco State League this summer, the whole town was pulling for Ryker to earn a spot on the squad. If for nothing else, for nostalgia's sake.

He was the Red Robins' 35th and final pick in the TSL inaugural draft, more of a tribute to his history in the town than a nod to his pitching abilities at age 27.

Ryker turned heads when he threw two scoreless innings in a public intrasquad scrimmage in mid-May. But he had a hard time sticking on the active roster once regular season games began. A few relief appearances, including a dreadful showing filled with walks and an ERA ballooning over 20.00 sent him to the reserve roster in late May.

"I kept working on my craft, but I wasn't that worried," Ryker said. "It's just been fun being around this team ... and I still had a lot of yards to mow."

With Red Springs down multiple starters and relievers heading into its final series of the regular season at Angier-Fuquay Springs, the Robins turned to their hometown hero to fill out Sunday's lineup card. His first career start.

Ryker did walk five batters and gave up an early run -- "It was so humid, I had a tough time gripping the ball" -- but otherwise did everything asked of him for five innings. The Red Springs offense did its part to protect its starter, and the Robins soared to an 8-1 victory.

Ryker's final stat line: 5.0 IP, 96 pitches, 5 hits allowed, 1 ER, 5 walks, 4 Ks -- and a two-out RBI single that gave Red Springs an early 2-1 lead it would never relinquish. "I wasn't much of a hitter in high school, so that might have been my favorite part of the game," a smiling Ryker said afterward.

Red Springs pounded out 15 hits on the day to earn a rare comfortable victory. Outfielder Justin Stubbs went 2-for-4 with a triple, a double and three RBIs. Fellow outfielder Bruce Browning had three hits and an RBI. Young first baseman Ricky Borruso earned two hits and played great defense on a day when coaches wanted to rest regular starter Steve Bowser.

Red Robins relievers? Perfect over four innings. Bob Hoyle (2.0 IP), Miguel Garcia (1.0 IP) and the recently signed Pat Roles (1.0 IP) did not surrender a hit or a walk.

Red Springs pulls within one game -- again! -- of the league lead with two games to play. Regardless of how the next two days -- or the rest of the season -- turn out, Ryker will always have this impressive day to add to his legacy.

Tobacco State League Scoreboard | Sunday, July 20, 2025
Red Springs 8, Angier-Fuquay Springs 1
Clinton 7, Sanford 6 (!)
Warsaw 6, Whiteville 5 (!!)
Lumberton 4, Rockingham 0
Dunn-Erwin 6, Smithfield-Selma 1

Tobacco State League Standings | Two Games To Play!!!
Sanford 30-22
Warsaw 30-22
Red Springs 29-23
Whiteville 28-24
Clinton 27-25
Lumberton 27-25
Dunn-Erwin 24-28
Angier-Fuquay Springs 22-30
Rockingham 22-30
Smithfield-Selma 21-31

Next Game
Red Springs at Angier-Fuquay Springs
Monday, July 21, 2025 | 7:05 p.m.
RED: Probable starter Dave Colvin (2-2, 3.66 ERA)
ANG: Josh Poole (4-4, 3.25 ERA)