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Tobs defeat RedWolves for third consecutive victory

June 12, 2008

Wilson, NC — The first place Florence RedWolves are six games over .500, and have just three losses this season. Two of those losses have come at the hands of the Wilson Tobs, who defeated Florence for the second time this season, by a final count of 7-3. Ryne Mantooth pitched a complete game for his first victory as a Tob, and Justin Parks homered for the second time this season as Wilson won its third straight to propel its record to 6-5 overall. The Tobs used several Florence miscues to their advantage, as six of the five runs scored were unearned.

Florence's mistakes began in the first. With two outs, Justin Parks singled and stole second base. Chris Henderson hit a ground ball to the short stop Justin Beal, who made an errant throw, allowing Parks to score and Henderson to reach third base. The RedWolves took their only lead of the game in the third against Mantooth. Jamie Walczak cracked a lead off homer to left field, and with two on, catcher Myckie Lugbauer delivered with an RBI ground out, giving Florence a 2-1 lead.

RedWolf mistakes would give the Tobs a lead they would never relinquish in the fourth. With one out, Chris Henderson hit a simple ground ball to third base, but Keon Graves could not come up with is cleanly, as he was charged with the team's second error. After Chris Freeman singled, Kevin Weidenbacher hit into a fielder's choice, putting runners at the corners with two away. Jesse Lancaster cranked a Bobby Doran breaking ball into left center for a two run double, putting Wilson back in front, 3-2.

The Tobs would pick up two more unearned runs in the fifth against Doran. Cam Freeman led off the inning with a bunt in front of home plate. Lugbauer picked it up and threw wildly to first, allowing Freeman to race to third base as the ball traveled down the right field line. With one away, Packy Elkins laid down a suicide squeeze bunt back to the mound, scoring Freeman. It was the second straight night that Jeff Steele called on the squeeze. Justin Parks then delivered with his second long ball of the season, a no doubt shot to deep left field, giving the Tobs a 5-1 lead.

As Mantooth continued to cruise through the middle innings, Wilson tacked on an insurance run in the seventh against reliever Chandler Griffin. With the bases loaded and no one out after two walks and a single, Griffin uncorked a wild pitch, scoring Ross Steedley from third. Had Griffin remembered to cover home plate, Steedley could have been tagged out. Instead, Lugbauer chased the ball and threw to no one as Steedley crossed, extending the Tobs' lead to five.

Mantooth got into trouble in the eighth, but escaped with minimal damage. After retiring the first hitter, Blake Walker tripled, and came home on Lugbauer's RBI single. Alec Lowrey then singled, but the right hander retired the next two hitters in order. Wilson tacked on a run in the bottom of the eighth on another Florence error. This time, it was charged to the pitcher, Griffin, who threw away Jesse Lancaster's sacrifice bunt, allowing Chris Freeman to score from second.

Mantooth finished off the game by retiring the RedWolves in order in the ninth, throwing over 130 pitches in the complete game victory, while allowing three earned runs on ten hits and striking out nine. Doran took his second loss of the year, allowing five unearned runs on just four hits over six frames.

The Tobs will take on Florence again tomorrow in South Carolina. Left hander Langford Stuber will get the nod for Wilson, looking for his first victory. Florence will counter with Rob Kumbatovic, who has pitched twice against Wilson this season. Kumbatovic pitched a complete game shutout against the Tobs last week, but was defeated by the Tobs in their home opener back on May 30th. Game time is set for 7:30 PM in Florence, with radio coverage beginning at 7:15 PM on WUBN 106.9 FM with Eric Kopp.

The Wilson Tobs are a member of the Coastal Plain League, the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its twelfth season, the Coastal Plain League features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

Contact:
Eric Kopp
252-291-8627