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Tobs stung by late inning homer at Florence

June 19, 2008

Florence, SC — The Tobs and Taylor Miller were just four outs away from handing the first place Florence RedWolves their first home loss at American Legion Field Thursday night. Leading 4-3 into the eight, Miller had eleven strike outs and was giving the banged up Tobs' staff exactly what they needed. Then, Jared Barkdoll looped a single to shallow left center field, and Cody Stinger used the short fence in left field to his advantage, cracking a game winning two run homer off Miller and crushing the Tobs' hopes of getting back to a .500 record. Florence would tack on another insurance run as they defeated the Tobs by a 6-4 final count. Wilson drops to 8-10, while Florence remains a league best 15-3. The Tobs are now officially eliminated from contention in the CPL South Division race for the first half.

"This was certainly a discouraging loss for our club," Tobs' manager Jeff Steele said after the defeat. "The beauty of this league is we get to come back tomorrow and try to redeem ourselves with a victory. It's frustrating because it looked like we had a handle on things."

In the early going, it seemed as if Miller and the Tobs were going to have yet another rough contest in Florence. Florence took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before an out was recorded. Andrew Guerra led off with a walk, and Herman Petzold doubled, bringing Guerra to third. Blake Walker and Myckie Lugbauer then came through with back to back RBI singles to start off the night's scoring. Later on, Stinger added a sacrifice fly RBI to give Florence a 3-0 lead after just one frame.

Against starter Bobby Doran, whom the Tobs defeated at home last week, Wilson struck back in the top of the third inning. Jared Richmond singled, and Kevin Weidenbacher doubled to right field, chasing Richmond to third. Nick Hogan then dragged a bunt single down the first base line, scoring Richmond and getting Wilson on the board. Justin Parks and Cody Hawn would also contribute RBI singles, as the Tobs tied it at 3 before Florence retired a hitter. Two batters later, Chris Henderson's RBI ground out gave Wilson a 4-3 lead.

Behind Taylor Miller, the Tobs held onto that lead for the next four and a half innings. Miller struck out the side twice, and continued to mow down RedWolf hitters, not losing his composure after surrendering three in the first. Bobby Doran was equally as effective, as the Tobs did not score for the remainder of the game following the third inning. Wilson picked up just four base hits in separate innings after their four run offensive outburst.

Aiding a staff plagued by injuries through the first three weeks of the season, Miller took the hill in the eighth trying to get through his seventh consecutive frame. He appeared poised to do so as he retired Walker and Lugbauer on fly balls. However, four batters later, the RedWolves had a two run lead. After Stinger's game winning homer, Florence tacked on another as Keegan Morrow singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Justin Beal came through with a two out RBI single to center, giving Florence a 6-4 lead. That was all for Miller as Brandon Brinson entered and retired the only batter he faced, Bruce Cameron, on a ground ball to the mound. In his longest outing of the season, Miller lasted 7 2/3 and allowed six runs while striking out 11, second most in a game this season by a Tobs' pitcher.

"He definitely struggled a bit in the first inning," said Steele. "But Miller found his rhythm from the second inning on. He was as sharp as anyone I've seen this season after that point. He threw better than his numbers show tonight."

Doran was pulled after eight innings of work, earning his second victory of the season. He was removed in favor of right hander Tio McLean, of Tusculum, who pitched a scoreless ninth to pick up his third save of the season. The tying run came to the plate in the form of Nick Hogan after Weidenbacher tripled, but Hogan was retired as he attempted to reach on another drag bunt. Florence has now won six straight, and three in a row against the Tobs. Wilson trails the RedWolves in the season series, 4-2, and has lost all three contests at American Legion Field.

Wilson will try to get back on the winning track Friday night as their South Carolina swing continues. They take on the Columbia Blowfish from Capital City Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 PM with radio coverage beginning at 6:45 PM on WUBN 106.9 FM with Eric Kopp. The Tobs' next home game at Historic Fleming Stadium takes place Saturday as Wilson hosts the Fayetteville SwampDogs at 7:05 PM. Gates open at 6:05 PM on Cycle Max Saturday, and Airport Barbershop's Free Haircut Night at the ball park.

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