at
June 18-20 | Robbins Stadium | Red Springs
Murphy’s Law: The Robins Can Hang — But Can They Fly?
By Chase Murphy | “Murphy’s Law” Column | The Robesonian Summer Intern
Twelve up. Twelve down. A dead-even 12–12 record through 24 games, with three to go to close out the first loop through the league schedule.
If you’re a Red Springs fan, you probably don’t know whether to smile or scream. Welcome to life in the middle — close enough to see the mountaintop, yet still squinting through the clouds.
This weekend’s series against Clinton was a microcosm of the entire Red Robins season: a thunderous 3-0 win in Game 1 that turned heads across the league, followed by a pair of winnable-but-wasted losses that dropped Red Springs right back into the crowd.
And that’s the problem. Red Springs is good — sometimes really good. But if there’s a gear beyond scrappy and streaky, we haven’t seen it yet.
The Good News
The bats have bite.
Chris Wreede leads the league with 19 RBIs and is hitting .353.
Steve Bowser has been flexing (.306, 5 HR, 15 RBIs),
Bruce Browning keeps finding grass, and
Josh Fleisher — our unsung hero in the 8-spot — has a quiet 10-game hit streak that deserves more noise.
On the mound, the trio of Shane D’Ovidio, Dan McSwain and Luke Restivo has settled in. D’Ovidio gets the ball in Game 1 against Angier-Fuquay Springs and has earned his way into the conversation with a 3-1 record. McSwain (3-0, 2.36 ERA) is cool, calm and collect. Restivo (2-3, 2.83) already gave Clinton fits last week and will close the series.
The Bad News
We’re in fifth place. Again.
And this isn’t the kind of fifth where you're surging. It’s the kind of fifth where you’re hanging on, looking up, and muttering about what could’ve been if a few bloops fell in, if a few arms hadn’t tired, and if Clinton hadn’t gone full Terminator in Game 3.
This next series? It matters. A lot.
Angier-Fuquay Springs sits at 14-10, tied with Whiteville for third and very much within striking distance of the top. They’ve got a real bullpen (closer Chris Parlato, eight saves, five hits allowed all season) and a thumper in Billy Moore (.312, 6 HR, 16 RBIs). Jason Roberts (4-1, 2.97) is a top-shelf ace with pinpoint command. This isn’t a club that beats itself.
But here’s the thing — neither are we. At least, not anymore. This version of Red Springs? They grind. They stretch starters. They hit in bunches. And they’ve taken body blows without going down.
Three games left before the loop resets. Three chances to shake the “yeah-but” label:
* Yeah, they beat Clinton… but dropped the series.
* Yeah, Wreede’s raking… but the lineup disappears some nights.
* Yeah, the starters have been great… but the bullpen’s still a question mark.
So which way does it break?
This is it — your moment, Robins. Time to soar or settle. The floodgates haven’t opened yet… but the dam’s cracking.
Murphy’s Take:
If Red Springs can take 2 of 3 from Angier, they’ll head into the back half of the season within shouting distance of the top and, more importantly, with belief. Drop the set, and they’re staring down the classic “just missed it” season.
I still think this team has a run in it. But it’s now or never...
Angier-Fuquay Springs ace pitcher, Jason Roberts