FredNats win Carolina League title

Travis Sykora justified his selection as Carolina League pitcher of the year with one final gem to make the Fredericksburg Nationals champions for the first time.

Hours after being honored, Sykora struck out nine in five one-hit shutout innings as the FredNats topped Kannapolis 3-0 Wednesday night in decisive Game 3 of the league championship finals at Virginia Credit Union Stadium.

The visiting Cannon Ballers forced a winner-take-all game with a 3-0 victory earlier Wednesday. But Sykora's dominance, backed by a two-run second-inning home run from Brandon Pimentel, made the difference in the nightcap.

It marked the first league championship for the FredNats, who moved south from Woodbridge before the COVID-canceled 2020 season. The franchise earlier won titles in 1982 (as the Alexandria Dukes), 1989 (Prince William Yankees) and 2008, '10 and '14 (as Potomac Nationals).