Mark Parker Hickory Daily Record Sports Correspondent

The Hickory Crawdads welcomed a first-round pick to the roster and used his talents to bolster a first-inning uprising in an 8-1 win over the Lynchburg on Saturday.

Gavin Fein, the first-round pick and the 12th overall selection by the Texas Rangers in last month’s Major League Baseball draft, was assigned to the Crawdads on Saturday to replace outfielder Paxton Kling, who was promoted to High-A Hub City (Spartanburg). Fein made an immediate impact for the Crawdads after they fell behind in the first.

Lynchburg took a 1-0 lead just three batters into the game, as Riley Nelson doubled in Juneiker Caceres. The Hillcats put four of the first five hitters on base in the first inning, but Crawdads starter Aidan Deakins induced a double-pl

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