Manatees Claim Season-Opening Win Over Daytona
By Brevard County Manatees // April 5, 2013
Hawn Leads Brevard County To Victory
DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA – In a game that turned out to be Cody Hawn against the Daytona Cubs, the Manatees’ slugger helped Brevard County edge out their rivals, 4-3, for an Opening Night win on Thursday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
Hawn finished 3-for-5 with two doubles, drove in three runs and scored once. His evening got started with Chad Stang on base, knocking him in with a base hit to left field to put the ‘Tees (1-0) on the board in the top of the first inning.
Daytona (0-1) answered right back in their half of the frame, sending their first two batters all the way around the diamond. Zeke DeVoss split the infield and then scored on Tim Saunders’ double, with Saunders coming around on a sacrifice fly.
The score stayed at 2-1 until the top of the third, in which Stang opened up by taking a walk. He swiped second and easily crossed home on Hawn’s first two-bagger.
A 2-2 stalemate was broken in the bottom of the sixth, with Stephen Bruno smacking a double of his own, advancing to third on a wild pitch and scoring on a John Andreoli base hit.
That was the end of Daytona’s offense, but Brevard County wasn’t done.
They came back and scored a pair their next time up, with Hawn driving in Nick Ramirez on another two-base hit. Greg Hopkins pushed Hawn across with the game-winning RBI after Hawn had moved to third on a wild pitch.
Eric Marzec picked up the win in relief as he threw 2.2 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball with two strikeouts.
Starter Jed Bradley (0-0, 4.50) took a no-decision after allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out four in four frames of work. Seth Harvey nailed down a save with a perfect ninth inning.
The Manatees and Cubs continue their series on Friday at Space Coast Stadium in Viera.
It will be Drew Gagnon (7-3, 2.83 in 2012) taking the hill for Brevard County, while Daytona will counter with Starling Peralta (5-8, 3.44 in 2012).
Admission is just $2 and the first 2,000 fans will receive a 2013 magnet schedule picture frame presented by Health First and Via Tuscany Apartments. There will also be a post-game fireworks show.
