Loadenthal Wins Carolina League Batting Title

By Ryan McConnell / Special to MLB.com

Carl Loadenthal had the opportunity to make league history Monday afternoon. Instead, he won the Carolina League's batting title.

Loadenthal went 1-for-2 to raise his batting average to .323 as the Kinston Indians edged his Myrtle Beach Pelicans, 5-2, at Coastal Federal Field. The 24-year-old outfielder's closest competition was Salem's Wallace Torbert, who hit .305 in 455 at-bats.

Loadenthal's final batting average is three percentage points behind ex-Myrtle Beach Pelican Marcus Giles' .326 in 1999 for best in league history. Loadenthal walked twice to raise his on-base percentage to .425, also tops in the Carolina League.

The non-drafted free-agent signee out of Rider University began the year with the Braves' Double-A Mississippi team, but was sent to Myrtle Beach in late April after hitting .167 in 19 games.

Loadenthal struggled upon his return, but excelled in June (.361) and July (.374). A hand injury contributed to a slow August -- .228 in 79 at-bats -- but the Philadelphia native rebounded to collect seven hits in his final 15 at-bats to seize the crown. He was particularly adept in day games, batting .404 in 52 at-bats.

Indians third baseman Rodney Choy Foo doubled in Micah Schilling to snap a 2-2 tie in the 11th inning and Argenis Reyes belted a two-run homer in the third for Kinston (38-31).

Reliever Scott Sumner (1-1) tossed three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out one.

Pelicans reliever Devin Anderson (1-3) surrendered three runs on six hits and two walks without a strikeout in four innings.

Clint Sammons went 2-for-4 with an RBI single in the fourth for Myrtle Beach (37-33).

Ryan McConnell is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.