BRISTOL, Va. – Sean O’Connell is the second youngest player on the Bristol White Sox roster.
The kid from California is more than holding his own in the Appalachian League.
The 18-year-old O’Connell contributed two hits and an RBI in Bristol’s 6-2 victory over the Greeneville Astros on Saturday night at DeVault Stadium.
Bristol (6-6) completed a three-game sweep of the Astros, ran its winning streak to four games and displayed superb pitching and hitting performances yet again.
“We started out [the season] a little slow, but it seems we’ve really picked it up,” O’Connell said. “We’re on a little bit of a win streak now and guys throughout the lineup have been swinging it pretty well.
We’re getting a lot of clutch hits from a lot of guys.”
Drew Lee (3-for-4, two runs), Jeffer Patino (RBI single) and Ethan Wilson (two hits) also fared well at the plate for the BriSox, who erased an early 2-0 deficit and finished with 10 hits. Bristol has pounded
out double-digit hits during the course of its winning streak.
“Hitting’s contagious,” said Bristol manager Ryan Newman. “Our offense is going really well and our pitching was outstanding that series. When you are playing well, it spreads to the whole team.”
Many of the players credited the daily skull sessions with veteran BriSox hitting coach Jerry Hairston Sr. for the success. The teacher has been proud of his pupils.
“The guys are swinging the bat well,” Hairston Sr. said. “They are swinging at strikes and having plate discipline. … They are putting the ball in play and being aggressive at the plate.”
O’Connell is one such player. He’s hitting .500 (3-for-6) in his two appearances thus far for the Sox.
A native of Van Nuys, Calif. – known more to automobile enthusiasts for its reputation as the one-time cruising capital of the United States – O’Connell has enjoyed his own joyride thus far.
He was drafted in the 15th round by the Chicago White Sox in last month’s MLB Amateur Draft after a standout career at powerful Chatsworth High School.
“I’ve done all right,” O’Connell said. “But I know there’s a lot of room for improvement.”
He’s also had to deal with some culture shock, moving from a town that neighbors Los Angeles to a town located in the mountains of Southwest Virginia.
“The town’s a lot smaller,” O’Connell said. “It’s a little bit of an adjustment. Everyone out here is real nice. I like the town and the real supportive fans. I like it.”
Matthew Heidenreich (2-1, 6.28 ERA) worked five solid innings for the win on the mound for Bristol. Josh Billeaud, Pat Schatz and Jamaal Hollis closed out the victory with a combined four scoreless
innings of relief.
The offensive support was welcome.
“It gives the pitchers a lot of confidence,” O’Connell said. “They know they don’t have to come out and pitch a one-run ball game or two-run ball game. … It takes a lot of pressure off.”
It was a good night for everyone. A season-high crowd of 3,030 packed the stadium, most of them there to see the postgame fireworks display. Those fans also witnessed Bristol extend its winning streak.
“We’ve been playing good,” O’Connell said. “It’s nice for all these people to come out seeing us. … It’d be nice to get this kind of turnout every day, not just during fireworks. Hopefully, a lot more people can come out and watch us.”
NOTES: Bristol plays at Pulaski today at 4 p.m. … Bristol outscored Greeneville 32-3 in the three-game series. … Former Tennessee High standout Marcus Nidiffer did not play for Greeneville.
thayes@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Hayes_BHCSports | (276) 645-2570
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