By Corey Hodges (X: @The_CoreyHodges)

 

This one was for Dad!

Any father would have been proud of the effort from Greenville (3-10) on Sunday at Guy Smith Stadium as the Yard Gnomes snapped a five-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over Peninsula (9-4).

Homers from Jon Howard (University of Mount Olive, 1-4) and Corey Berry (Columbus State, 1-2, two walks) in order to begin the 3rd allowed Greenville to recover from an early two-run deficit as Peninsula capped a productive 1st with an RBI double from Curry Sutherland (Missouri State, 1-3) that plated Grayson Fitzwater (VMI, 0-3, walk).

The Yard Gnomes rode the strength of starting pitcher Quinn Holt (Keystone College) and added runs when in position to do so through the first six innings. The righty from North Wales, Pennsylvania tripled his previous top strikeout mark on the season by fanning six Pilots and only allowing one hit. Three unearned runs and five walks completed the rest of Holt’s winning line as he picked up victory number one of 2025 to even his record at 1-1. Fittingly, Holt was named the “Gnome of the Game” following Sunday’s victory and even scored an interview with on-field emcee Rachel Lindstrom.

After Holt wrapped up what would be his sixth and final inning on the bump, it was time for the Greenville bats to get back to work. Danny Ramirez (Missouri, 1-4, two RBI), who homered on Saturday in a blowout loss to Morehead City, did so again on Sunday but this time the big fly came in a win. The no-doubt two-run blast over the right field fence was Ramirez’s second of the season and now the Kissimmee, Florida native is just one homer shy of equaling the three he clubbed with Greenville in the entirety of last season. Look out!

If you think that we jumped the gun by mentioning Quinn Holt early, that is only because Greenville saved even more game-winning pitching for the final three frames against Peninsula.

RHP Dan Bass (Ursinus College), who before Sunday was already a winner in both regular season (June 6th vs. Wilmington) and exhibition (May 26th vs. Greensboro) baseball so far in the first two weeks of the 2025 Coastal Plain League season, steered Greenville to a safe port of call as he picked up the save (his first of the year) and logged three innings (five strikeouts, one hit, two walks).

Bass had a penchant from stringing together strikeouts on Sunday as he punched out two straight to end the 7th and three in succession to cap the 8th. Bass walked one and induced three put-outs in the 9th to seal the save and help Greenville get back to some winning baseball.

Other notable names in the Greenville win included Fuller Morrish (Georgia State) who had the lone multi-hit bat in the Yard Gnomes’ lineup as the Canton, Georgia native finished 2-3 with a run and a walk.

Grayson Fitzwater saw a nine-game hitting streak come to an end as the Pilots dropped their fourth in five games. After beginning the 2025 season with an 8-0 mark, Peninsula is now at 9-4. Carlos Pena (Indiana State), who led the Coastal Plain League in home runs entering the final day of the week with eight, went 1-4 with a walk but did not bump his total to nine. Pena was largely kept quiet in the leadoff spot for Peninsula as Greenville handled the league’s hottest hitter expertly.

Righty Nate Miller (Goldey-Beacom College) took the loss for the Pilots as he dropped to a 1-1 mark. Miller got the start and went two innings while allowing four hits and three runs (all earned). Two walks and two strikeouts completed Miller’s final line.

Both teams have Monday off but will return to action later in the upcoming week as Greenville visits the Wilson Tobs (7-6) on Tuesday (June 17th) at Historic Fleming Stadium. Wilson is 1-0 against the Yard Gnomes this season following a 5-4 win at home on May 31st. First pitch time is set for 7 PM. Peninsula hosts Holly Springs (8-5) at War Memorial Stadium in Hampton, Virginia one night later on Wednesday with the same start time of 7 PM.

Greenville is back at home on Thursday night (June 19th) as the Yard Gnomes host the West Division-leading Forest City Owls (9-2) on “College Night” from Guy Smith Stadium. It will also be “Thirsty Thursday” at the ballpark with fans encouraged to show up for extra refreshments. First pitch is set for 6:30 PM.

NOTES: Game time was three hours and five minutes.