Gnats' Defense of SAL Championship Begins Tonight

September 3, 2014 - South Atlantic League (SAL) Savannah Sand Gnats The Savannah Sand Gnats look to defend their South Atlantic League Championship when they travel to Asheville, NC on Wednesday Night for Game One of the SAL Division Series.

The Gnats, who won the South Division's First Half for the second consecutive season (and fourth of the last five), will take on the winners of the Second Half--the Asheville Tourists--in a best-of-three series, with Games Two and Three at Historic Grayson Stadium.

Once again, the Sand Gnats are led by their pitching. Boasting a South Atlantic League leading team ERA of 3.03, Manager Luis Rojas will have the luxury of sending three aces to the hill for the Division Series. Taking the hill for the Sand Gnats in Game one will be right hander Robert Gsellman. Making 20 starts for Savannah this season, Gsellman had a 2.55 ERA with a 10-6 record with four complete games. Following Gsellman in Game Two will be Savannah native John Michael Gant. Getting the chance to pitch in front of friends and family this year has really agreed with Gant. After being selected to appear in the All-Star Game in Hickory in June, Gant was selected as the right handed pitcher on the Annual South Atlantic League All-Star team. John Michael led the team with 11 wins and posted a 2.56 ERA in 123 innings. If Game Three is necessary, the Gnats will send right hander Robert Whalen to the mound. Whalen was a staggering 9-1 in just eleven appearances (ten starts) in 2014. The lumbering right-hander boasted a 2.01 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .192 average.

While Savannah has the league's best pitching, there is no doubt that the best offense resides in Asheville with the Tourists. The Tourists paced the league in batting average (.292), runs scored (772), home runs (122), and RBI (704). The offense was led by Ryan McMahon and Correlle Prime who shared the league lead with 102 runs driven in.

Asheville won the season series with the Sand Gnats by taking six of the nine games played. In an interesting coincidence, eight of the nine games where started for the Sand Gnats by someone other than Gsellman, Gant, or Whalen. Robert Whalen was the only one of the trio to face the Tourists and went 7.1 innings as the Gnats dropped a 3-2 decision on August 12.

Joining the Sand Gnats on their quest for back-to-back Championships are several players who earned late-season promotions from within the Mets' farm system. Mets' 2014 first rounder Michael Conforto leads the quartet of new Gnats players heading into the post season. After being selected with the 10th overall pick, the former Oregon State outfielder began his professional career with the Brooklyn Cyclones. Appearing in 42 games, with all but one coming in left field, Conforto hit three home runs and knocked in 19 runs to go along with his .331 average.

Shortstop Amed Rosario returns for second tour of duty in Savannah. After a seven game stint with the Gnats at the end of May, the 18 year-old was assigned to Brooklyn for the start of the New York-Penn League Season. As the Cyclones everyday shortstop, Rosario hit .289 with a home run, 23 RBIs and five triples in 68 games.

Infielder Jhoan Urena and right-handed pitcher Persio Reyes round out the additions to the Sand Gnats roster. Urena comes to Savannah by way of Brooklyn, after hitting .300 with five home runs and 47 RBI. Reyes joins the team from the Mets' Appalachian League affiliate, the Kingsport Mets. Appearing in eight games, four of them starts, Reyes posted an ERA of 1.34, with a save and a 2-0 record. He also struck out 31 batters in 33.2 innings pitched.

Game 2 of the Divisional Series will be on Friday, September 5 at Historic Grayson Stadium. First pitch will be 7:05 and gates will open at 6:00. There will be a post-game fireworks show immediately after the game presented by Amerigroup. If necessary, Game Three will be on Saturday, September 6 at 6:05 at Historic Grayson Stadium.

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Gnats' Defense of SAL Championship Begins Tonight