Ingle’s milestone only part of postseason push

The Rome Braves have worked their way to the top of the South Atlantic League.

In their last homestand of the season, the Rome Braves are in the midst of a successful stretch that has seen them celebrate their skipper and make a stand for the playoffs.

Rome has won 11 of its last 13 games and finally surpassed Augusta as the top team in the South Atlantic League Southern Division standings on Monday when it defeated Asheville 10-3 on the road.

The victory, the team’s fifth in a row, also marked manager Randy Ingle’s 1,500th career win, an occasion that was celebrated prior to Tuesday night’s game against Kannapolis at State Mutual Stadium.

Ingle, who was initially Rome’s manager from 2006-2010, returned for two seasons in 2012 before his current stint with Rome began last season. He has been in the Braves’ organization for more than 30 years and has twice been named Manager of the Year.

Meanwhile, the team’s talented roster has proven to be a powerful force in the second half of the season and enters the final two weeks of the season with the SAL playoffs in sight.

Patrick Weigel and Mike Soroka are among the Braves’ top pitching prospects, with Weigel leading the team with a 10-4 record and an ERA of 2.51. Soroka (7-9) is at 2.98 and has only given up three home runs this season.

Austin Riley, Carlos Castro and Jared James are just some of the position players that have shined in recent weeks.

If the Braves remain in the Southern Division lead, the first game of the Division Playoffs against Charleston will be Sept. 7 at State Mutual Stadium. Rome hasn’t made the playoffs since 2012, when they lost in the Division Playoffs. Rome won the 2003 South Atlantic League title. File, Jeremy Stewart / RN-T

Rome Braves manager Randy Ingle won his 1,500th game Monday when Rome beat the Asheville Tourists 10-3.