K-Tribe clinches first-half title

Published in Sports on June 14, 2007 1:48 PM

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KINSTON -- Defending Carolina League champion Kinston triumphed 7-4 over Lynchburg and clinched the first-half Southern Division title during a doubleheader Wednesday evening at historic Grainger Stadium.

The K-Tribe took the nightcap 1-0.

Kinston entered the day tied with the Burlington Bees for the most consecutive playoff appearances at six. The K-Tribe earned its 16th postseason trip in 21 years as the Single A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, and won its fourth straight first-half crown.

Kevin Dixon (3-3) fanned a season-high nine batters in 51/3 innings during Kinston's division-clinching contest. Mike Finocchi held the Hillcats hitless for two-plus innings and earned his second save of the season.

Stephen Head put the K-Tribe on the board with a first-inning RBI. A Lynchburg throwing error led to a pair of second-inning runs. Wes Hodges, Nathan Panther and Mike Butia supplied RBI hits in the fifth inning to conclude the scoring.

In game two, starter Dan Cevette (2-0) scattered three hits and posted three strikeouts in 51/3 shutout innings. Jim Deters notched his first save with two innings of scoreless relief work.

Josh Rodriguez collected the game's lone RBI.

Kinston goes for the series sweep against Lynchburg today. Sung-Wei Tseng takes the mound for a 7 p.m. start.