Tobs Can’t Snap Sharks’ Eight Game Win Streak

Updated July 27 2017
WILMINGTON, N.C.

The Tobs put up a good fight on the road against the first-place Wilmington Sharks, but in the end the Tobs were outlasted as Wilmington won its ninth straight game to go to 14-4 in the CPL second half.

The Tobs lost 7-4 on Thursday night, dropping to 5-13 in the second half and 14-32 overall.

Sam Luchansky (Belmont Abbey) got the start for the Tobs Thursday. Luchansky, who didn’t appear to have his best stuff early on, seemed to settle in as the game continued, pitching into the seventh inning. The right-hander went six-plus innings, allowing seven runs (three earned) on eight hits, striking out two and walking two. The Tobs made three errors behind Luchansky, who took the loss to drop back to 4-5 on the season.

With runners on first and third and nobody out in the seventh, Jeff Thompson (Belmont Abbey) came on and ended up getting the final six outs for the Tobs. The left-hander went two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out three, pitching for the first time since his start on Monday at Edenton.

After Wilmington scored one in the first, one in the second, and two in the fourth, the Tobs stared at a 4-0 hole as Austin Fisher (Santa Clara) led off the inning for the Tobs. Fisher lined a single to center, and the next batter CJ Ballard (Georgia Southern) shot a double the other way down the left field line, setting the Tobs up with second-and-third with nobody out.

After Ballard, Josh Ladowski (UNC) grounded out to second base, scoring Fisher to make it a 4-1 game and moving Ballard to third. Next up, Shane Shepard (NC State) connected for his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot to center field just beyond the reach of Wilmington center fielder Justin Dean (Lenoir Rhyne) to bring the Tobs within one at 4-3.

Wilmington would extend the lead with one in the sixth and two in the seventh to make it a 7-3 score. The Tobs came up in the top of the ninth and plated one run, as Shepard grounded out to second base with runners on second and third, scoring CJ Ballard. With the tying run in the on-deck circle, Andre Nnebe (Santa Clara) struck out to end the game, as Wilmington, who started the season 1-9 at home, got back to 12-12 at Buck Hardee Field with the win.

The Tobs are on the road tomorrow night at Peninsula for a 7pm matchup.

The Wilson Tobs enter their 21st season as an original member within the Coastal Plain League for the 2017 summer. The upcoming season for the Tobs will see an expanded community outreach effort, increased participation in helping the less fortunate and more exciting entertainment for the Wilson Community. We would like to dedicate each successful season to the Wilson Community, Coastal Plain League Organization, Host Families, Sponsors Partners and the Dedicated Fans throughout the city of Wilson. The Wilson Tobs have played host to over 100 alumni taken in the draft and have produced a dozen players who have gone on to play in the MLB, including Cy Young & MVP winner Justin Verlander. For more information on the Wilson Tobs, visit our website www.wilsontobs.com.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 22nd season in 2018, the CPL features 16 teams playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL has had over 1,450 alumni drafted and 111 of those – including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander – make their Major League debut; while another notable alum – Russell Wilson – won Super Bowl XLVIII. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat @CPLBaseball..

Contact:

- Will Hibbard

Phone: