Results tagged ‘ Nick Ciolli ’
Dash to a million: BB&T Ballpark in pictures
Since BB&T Ballpark opened on April 13, 2010, nearly one million fans have made their way through its gates. As we approach this milestone, we decided to take a look back at some of the best moments in this young park’s history.
The first fans make their way through BB&T Ballpark’s gates ahead of the first game in the park’s history.
Kenny Williams, the former White Sox GM and father of 2010 Dash alum Kenny Williams Jr., throws out the first pitch in BB&T Ballpark history.
Fans packed the seats and the left field berm for the park’s inaugural night with 7,111 in attendance.
The Dash and Myrtle Beach Pelicans played a 20-inning affair in the second game of a doubleheader on May 19, 2010, prevailing 4-3 when Ozzie Lewis scored the game winning run.
A tremendous crowd of 7,268 fans (the highest in the park’s history to that point) packed BB&T Ballpark on July 2, 2010 as Chris Sale made his professional debut. Sale is now shining in the big leagues.
Prior to the 2011 season, Winston-Salem entertained its parent club at BB&T Ballpark. The Dash bested the White Sox 3-0 in an exhibition game.
On July 5 and 6, 2011, Dash outfielder Nick Ciolli robbed a pair of home runs from Salem and Myrtle Beach, the latter of which would have been a grand slam. See both grabs here and here. (Photo via Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash)
BB&T Ballpark was jam packed again for the All-Star Game between the California League and Carolina League on June 19, 2012. (Photo via Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash)
Bolt got together with several of his friends to put on quite a show during last year’s All-Star festivities. (Photo via Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash)
After the Carolina League finished thrashing the California League 9-1, fans enjoyed a great fireworks show to cap off the week’s festivities. (Photo via Jody Stewart/W-S Dash)
Dash fans came out in droves on July 4, 2012, setting a BB&T Ballpark record with 7,285 watching the Dash take on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. (Photo via Jody Stewart/W-S Dash)
The Dash posted full-season Minor League Baseball’s top record in 2012, and Winston-Salem advanced all the way to the Mills Cup Finals. Kevan Smith clubbed a go-ahead homer in the Dash’s Game 2 win, and Daniel Wagner’s reaction in the middle said it all. (Photo via Dan Barber/W-S Dash).
Thank you to the best fans in Minor League Baseball for helping BB&T Ballpark become the fastest High-A facility to reach one million fans! Check back tomorrow for more BB&T Ballpark history.
- Rob
Four More Roster Moves
Nick Ciolli hits the DL for the second time this season (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
The White Sox announced four more moves affecting the Dash prior to the club’s series finale at Lynchburg. Winston-Salem receives outfielder Mark Haddow and southpaw Max Peterson from Low-A Kannapolis. To make room for the Intimidators duo, outfielder Nick Ciolli was placed on the disabled list and left-hander Matt Wickswat was promoted to Double-A Kannapolis.
Haddow led Kannapolis and was ninth in the South Atlantic League with a .306 batting average, and he had seven homers and 57 RBI in 108 games. A former 24th-round pick, Haddow was a midseason All-Star in the SAL.
Peterson returns to the High-A level after spending time with Stockton, Oakland’s California League affiliate, in 2011. The White Sox inked Peterson to a deal this year, and he has responded with a 1.33 earned run average in 13 appearances out of the bullpen.
Ciolli suffers another tough break, heading to the disabled list less than a week before coming off the DL following a two-and-a-half month stint due to a right wrist injury. This time, Ciolli hurt his left hamstring. In 46 games this season, the former Indiana State star is hitting .280 with four homers and 26 RBI.
Wickswat is heading back to Double-A Birmingham for his third trip around the Southern League this season. In seven appearances with the Dash, the lefty is 1-1 with a 7.82 earned run average.
Winston looks for its ninth series victory in a row tonight at 7:05 against the Hillcats. Listen live beginning at 6:50 here.
- Brian
A Short Stay
(Saul McSween/W-S Dash)
Imagine someone saying that you cannot do something you love for an entire year? After dislocated his left shoulder in the outfield during a spring training game earlier this year, this is what Brandon Short heard from the White Sox.
However, Short worked his tail off in order to return to action this season. After completing the final stages of his rehab in Winston-Salem, Short learned that he would be activated earlier this month.
Today, Short received even more good news to override a frustrating start to 2012: he was heading back to Double-A Birmingham.
Short played in 10 games with Winston-Salem and hit .297 (11-for-37) with seven RBI and four runs scored. The former 28th-round pick hit safely in seven straight games from August 10-17.
He now returns to the Southern League where he was an All-Star in 2011. Short hit .262 with 13 homers and 60 RBI in 130 games with the Barons a year ago.
With Short’s promotion to Double-A, the outfield picture opens up a little bit. Winston still has five players on the roster–Nick Ciolli, Michael Earley, Cyle Hankerd, Keenyn Walker and Ross Wilson–who can play in the outfield.
The Dash and Lynchburg Hillcats continue their four-game series tonight at 7:05 from Calvin Falwell Field. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:50 here. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Disabled List Dance to 100
Nick Ciolli missed two-and-a-half months with a right wrist injury (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
The White Sox announced three more roster moves today, bringing the Dash’s 2012 total to 102 transactions. Today, the Dash welcome back outfielders Nick Ciolli and Ross Wilson from long stints on the disabled list. Winston-Salem also placed catcher Jeremy Dowdy on the seven-day disabled list.
Ciolli suffered a right wrist injury after hitting a home run June 1 against Carolina, his final game before heading to the disabled list. Before the injury, Ciolli was hitting .269 with four homers and 25 RBI in 43 games. After struggling in April with a .212 mark, Ciolli hit .309 in 25 games after May 1.
Wilson was also finding his stride before hitting the DL with an abdominal injury July 19. During his final four games before the four-week stint on the bench, Wilson went 6-for-15 (.400). In his 21 contests with the Dash, Wilson is hitting .212 with nine runs and five RBI. The former 10th-round pick also played with Low-A Kannapolis for 65 games and hit .279 with seven homers and 33 RBI.
Dowdy heads to the disabled list for the first time in his minor league career. The Raleigh native and former Appalachian State star is hitting .222 (6-for-27) with four runs scored and a pair of RBI. Before joining the Dash July 3, Dowdy was 7-for-17 (.412) in five games with rookie-level Bristol.
The Dash now have a league-maximum 25 players on their active roster. Winston-Salem, a winner in 19 of its last 23 games, faces off with Frederick tonight at 7:00. Pre-game coverage begins at 6:45 here.
- Brian
10 Is Winston-Salem’s Number
Dan Black is a hit away from continuing the Dash’s dominance in one category (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
Before the Dash and Pelicans continue this four-game series at TicketReturn.com Field in Myrtle Beach, I wanted to share a few numbers with you that are almost as fascinating as the “stat of the year” I provided yesterday. Many of these stats involve the number 10.
- Winston-Salem posted its 13th run output of 10 runs or more in its 10-1 victory Thursday night. The Dash lead the Carolina League in this category, with Salem checking in right behind Winston-Salem with 11 such showings. The Dash tend to parlay their momentum from a double digit offensive display. Winston-Salem is 8-4 in the game following a 10-plus run performance.
- Dash first baseman Dan Black has hit safely in his last nine games dating back to June 25. With a hit tonight, Black would become the ninth Dash swinger to record a hitting streak of 10 games or more. He would join Marcus Semien (18), Nick Ciolli (15), Carlos Sanchez (13), Daniel Wagner (13), Mike Blanke (12), Michael Earley (12), Juan Silverio (10) and Trayce Thompson (10) in the club.
- There have been only 24 hitting streaks of 10 or more games in the Carolina League this season, and the Dash have eight of them, which is the most on the circuit by a wide margin.
- OK, this is a little higher than 10, but it is still pretty great. Dash slugger Cyle Hankerd crushed his 12th homer of the season in the second inning Thursday night. Hankerd is now tied in all of minor league baseball with 12 homers since June 9, when he joined the Dash from Low-A Kannapolis. Only Mike Hessman from Oklahoma City (Triple-A, Houston) has also mustered a dozen homers over the last 34 days.
- I give Blanke and Steven Upchurch a 10 for their new purchase today. While hanging out around the Broadway on the Beach, a local tourist attraction in Myrtle Beach, the duo bought neon yellow t-shirts. They are brighter than the reflection off the Winston Tower near sunset.
- Three rounds of mini golf and 10 holes in one for yours truly. I’m hoping to get one more round in before the trip ends tomorrow night.
The Dash and Pelicans square off tonight at 7:05. Join me at 6:50 for the Pre-Game Dash here.
- Brian
Buch Activated, Ciolli to DL
Ryan Buch is back on the active roster but in a new role (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
Winston-Salem’s disabled list has been a revolving door in the last few weeks, and we once again saw some shuffling this afternoon.
First, the good news. Right-hander Ryan Buch has been activated off the disabled list. Buch spent seven days on the DL with right rotator cuff tendinitis.
Buch had been in the rotation since the start of the season and posted a 3-5 record with a 5.44 earned run average in 10 starts. However, Buch will join the bullpen beginning tonight in Salem. The Yardley, Pa., native has made 30 relief appearances in his minor league career, most recently with Low-A Kannapolis in 2010.
To make room for Buch, the Sox placed outfielder Nick Ciolli on the disabled list with a right wrist injury. Ciolli was a late scratch Saturday and has missed the Dash’s last four games. Ciolli, who has been on Winston’s active roster since the start of the season, is hitting .269 with four homers and 25 RBI in 43 games. Because of this move, Winston has just three outfielders on its roster.
The Dash aim to extend their Southern Division lead to two-and-a-half games tonight at 7:05 against second-place Salem. Listen live beginning at 6:50 here. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Inside Semien’s Hit Streak
When Marcus Semien’s hit streak began, the Dash were 7-8 on the year (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
Since April 23, Dash shortstop Marcus Semien has hit safely in 17 straight games. After a tough start, Semien has become one of the best hitters on one of the best offenses in minor league baseball. Let’s delve a little deeper into this three-week journey.
- Semien’s 17-game hitting streak is the fourth-longest active run in the minor leagues. Peoria’s Paul Hoilman currently boasts the best run in the minors (24 games). Round Rock’s Yangervis Solarte is second with a 22-game run, with Frisco’s Jurickson Profar third at 21 games.
- His hit streak is the longest in the Carolina League this season by four games. Teammate Nick Ciolli and Wilmington’s Angel Franco share second place with a 13-game run.
- Semien is 24-for-71 (.338) with all five of his home runs and 17 of his 20 RBI during the recent run. Since Semien’s streak began, he is 10th in batting average, tied for fourth in homers and fifth in RBI.
- Success at the plate has led to success in the field. Semien has only committed one error during the streak, and it was all the way back on April 24.
- Overall this season, Semien is hitting .275 with five homers and 20 RBI. He is tied for sixth in long balls and tied for eighth in RBI. Not bad for a leadoff hitter.
- Most importantly, the Dash are 13-4 in their last 17 games, and Semien has played in every contest.
Tonight, Semien looks to make it an 18-game streak. Join me on the Pre-Game Dash at 5:50 here. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Dash Players on Twitter
(Photo courtesy of New Media Blog)
EDIT: Thanks to reader and tweeter John for pointing out that I forgot one. Dash infielder Dan Wagner is available at @danwag06. So we are up to 10 Dash players on Twitter.
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The Dash have played really well over the last seven days. They have won a season-high seven in a row. So, Dash players deserve a reward, right?
Here is your chance to help. The Dash are all over the Twitter world. Here are the ones I could find:
Chris Bassitt (@C_Bass419): He may be the most active Dash player on Twitter. From tweets about the Dash, minor league travel and his favorite sports team, Chris is a Twitter machine.
Kyle Bellamy (@KyleBellamy_U): His picture is worth the click and follow alone. Check it out.
Nick Ciolli (@nciolli20): Nick is a big fan of the <<< or >>> fad.
Michael Earley (@MoneyMikeEarley): If you want to see what the Dash are playing for this season, check out Mike’s twitter picture.
Stephen McCray (@mccrazy44): The newest member of the Dash roster may have the best handle on the club.
Nick McCully (@NMcCully): He’s been in nine states over the last two and a half years. If anything, he probably has good packing advice.
Jake Oester (@oester16): The guy likes fishing. His picture proves it.
Jake Petricka (@jacobpetricka): He doesn’t tweet much, but they are almost always baseball-related posts. That’s enough for me.
Brady Shoemaker (@whitesox4321): Brady has never tweeted before, and he doesn’t follow anyone. Still, he has 15 followers. That’s making something out of nothing.
Let me know if I missed anyone, and be sure to give these guys a follow. By the way, the Dash’s Twitter account is approaching 3,000 followers. Be sure to give us a follow. We will do another fun Twitter post later this week! Talk to you tonight at 6:50 on wsdash.com for the Dash and the P-Nats.
- Brian
Dash Crush Kannapolis in Exhibition
In a battle of White Sox prospects, the Dash rolled Low-A Kannapolis 8-1 Tuesday afternoon. There is no box score for this, and it is a good thing. The Dash opened the game with ten players in their lineup (two DH spots), and occasionally a Dash pitcher would throw to a Dash hitter with the Intimidators in the field.
It was, most certainly, an exhibition.
But, we do have some individual Dash performances to tell you about below:
- Mike Blanke: RBI double in the 5th
- Nick Ciolli: 2-run triple in the 5th; RBI double in the 7th
- Michael Earley: solo home run in the 7th
- Brady Shoemaker: RBI double in the 2nd
- Daniel Wagner: 2-run single in the 4th
Also, starters Spencer Arroyo and Andre Rienzo both looked sharp. The duo combined to allow one run in five innings.
Mike and I enjoyed our trip to K-Town. We even saw a Dale Earnhardt Intimidators car. Earnhardt was born in Kannapolis, and the organization’s name is based on his nickname. Cool stuff.
Thanks for following along. We’ll talk to you tomorrow!
- Brian
The First Starting Lineup
We greet you from newly-named CMC-NorthEast Stadium in Kannapolis for today’s exhibition between the Dash and the Intimidators, the White Sox’s Low-A squad. Our view from the booth is right behind home plate (I apologize for the cell phone picture).
We will keep you updated on the game’s action on our twitter feed, which you can check out here.
For now, I’m sure plenty of people are wondering how the Dash’s lineup will look. Here is what new skipper Tommy Thompson has in store this afternoon’s exhibition. One note: Trayce Thompson, a highly-touted outfield prospect, will not arrive in Winston-Salem until later this week. He will be a fixture in the lineup once the season rolls around.
Dash Lineup:
SS-Marcus Semien
2B-Carlos Sanchez
CF-Nick Ciolli
1B-Dan Black
C-Mike Blanke
LF-Brady Shoemaker
RF-Ross Wilson
DH-Daniel Wagner
3B-Jake Oester
DH-Michael Earley
And yes, there are 10 guys in the lineup and two DH’s. Thompson and the coaching staff want to see everybody, so we’ve got two DH’s this afternoon. Stay tuned here and on Twitter.
- Brian
