Updated July 28 2017
The Tobs got a great start from Brett Morrison (Lock Haven) and offense in bunches on Friday night, beating the Peninsula Pilots 6-2 at War Memorial Stadium, a game that was called short due to rain.
Morrison pitched all five defensive innings for the Tobs, allowing two runs (both earned) on seven hits, striking out four and walking one. Morrison’s only big mistake of the night came in the bottom of the fourth, when Pilots catcher Drew Delsignore (Mercyhurst) hit a two-run homer to left, his 13th of the year. Morrison picked up his first win of the season, going to 1-2 on the season.
Offensively, the Tobs did their damage with two seperate three-run outbursts. In the top of the third, the Tobs had a long two-out rally, starting with CJ Ballard (Georgia Southern). With Hunter Gore (Liberty) on first base with two outs, Ballard lined an RBI triple down the right field line, scoring Gore to give the Tobs a 1-0 lead. The next man up Dawnoven Smith (NC A&T) walked to set up first-and-third with two outs. Then, Conner Leonard (Appalachian State) lined a single to left, scoring Ballard and sending Smith to third, as the Tobs made it a 2-0 score. Following Leonard, Andre Nneve (Santa Clara) grounded a single up the middle, scoring Smith from third and extending the lead to 3-0.
With the score now 3-2, the Tobs came back to the plate in the top of the fifth and inflicted more damage, as the inning began with two Peninsula errors. CJ Ballard reached to start the inning on a throwing error by Peninsula shortstop Sam Griggs (Southern Indiana), and then Dawnoven Smith flied a shot deep into right-center field that glanced off the glove of center fielder Connor Stephens (Jacksonville) as he and right fielder Johnathon Embry (Liberty) collided in the alley. The two errors set the Tobs up with runners on second and third. After a Conner Leonard groundout, Andre Nnebe hit a triple off the right field wall over the head of Embry, scoring both runners and pushing the lead to 5-2. Next up, Jake Holtzapple (UNC) singled through the left side, making it a 6-2 game and givng the Tobs third basemen five hits in his last two games.
In the top of the seventh inning, Dawnoven Smith (NC A&T) hit what would have been his fifth home run over the left field wall to make it a 7-2 game, but in with two outs in the bottom of the sixth the game was called due to unplayable field conditions and by league rule, the game ended with only five official innings played, the victory going to the Tobs, 6-2.
With the win, the Tobs went to 6-13 in the CPL second half and 15-32 overall on the season.
The Tobs will be back in action tomorrow against the Morehead City Marlins for two games. Starting at 4:30, the suspended game from July 4th will resume (currently 9-3 Morehead City in the top of the fifth inning). After the completion of the first game, the Eli Craig Band will play for one hour as the fourth installment of the RA Jeffreys Band Series. Following the in-stadium concert, the regularly scheduled game will be played, set to start around 7:30pm.
For more information about Saturday’s contests, call the team office at 252-291-8627.
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
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