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Steamers use Key, bullpen to lock down victory over Tobs

June 23, 2008

Wilson, NC — After dropping four of their last five, the schedule did not get any easier for the Wilson Tobs heading into Monday night’s contest. The first place Edenton Steamers reminded them of that, using their pitching and timely hitting to hold off the Tobs by a 5-4 final count. The win puts Edenton at 16-6 overall, giving the Steamers a commanding lead in the Coastal Plain League North Division. Wilson has lost five of their last six, dropping to 9-14, holding onto fourth place in the South.

Edenton got on the board in the top of the second against Wilson start Ryne Mantooth, who came into the game with a 2-1 record. Ryan Boelson singled to lead things off, and moved to second on a one out ground out by Broc Sutton. Then, bad luck began to happen for Mantooth and the Tobs. Ben Wolcamot reached on an infield single, and Matt Thielepape hit a bloop double to left center off the glove of shortstop Packy Elkins, scoring Boelson from second. During the next frame, the Steamers would take advantage of a key Tobs mistake.

With two outs and Mantooth close to an easy inning, R.J. Harris hit a ground ball to third base. Matt Sanders charged and threw on one hop to Cody Hawn at first. Hawn was unable to scoop the throw, giving Sanders an error and extending the inning. Adelphi’s Ryan Boelson then cracked a two out, two run homer to left center field, giving Edenton a 3-0 lead. Both runs were unearned on the line of Mantooth.

“He (Boelson) didn’t miss that pitch at all,” Mantooth said. “It was just a mistake. (It was) a hanging slider that didn’t drop enough.”

Wilson picked up their first run of the game in the last of the fourth against Edenton starter Joe Key, who came into the game with a 3-0 record and a miniscule 0.37 ERA. Derek Simmons reached on a throwing error by Thielepape at third base, and he scored on a two out RBI single to right field by Sanders, cutting the Edenton lead to two. The Tobs would load the bases in the inning, but Key was able to bear down and strike out Cam Freeman to retire the side.

In the fifth, Edenton scored yet another run with two outs. After retiring the first two hitters easily, Mantooth yielded a two out single to Brett Nommensen, who promptly stole second base, his 11th swiped bag of the season. R.J. Harris came through with an RBI single to right field, scoring Nommensen and giving Edenton a 4-1 lead. As Key cruised through five frames, the Steamers got another in the top of the seventh on Boelsen’s two out RBI hit, his third run driven in on the night.

The Tobs’ bats began to wake up in the seventh against right handed reliever Evan Sanford. Jared Richmond worked a lead off walk, and Nick Hogan singled him to third base with one out. Kevin Weidenbacher’s RBI ground out scored Richmond, and Cody Hawn lined a two out single to right field, scoring Hogan. Derek Simmons, the tying run, was retired on a ground ball to end the frame with Edenton leading by two.

Left hander Brandon Michon allowed a lead off double to Justin Parks, and Packy Elkins worked out a walk. In possibly the biggest at bat of the night, Matt Sanders was unable to get down a sacrifice bunt, popping it up into the glove of Michon. After a wild pitch, Richmond’s ground ball to second scored Parks. Ross Steedley was called off the bench to pinch hit for Freeman, but closer Luke Demko got him to ground out to end the threat. Demko pitched a perfect ninth to wrap things up. He is yet to allow a run this season, and is 3-0 with 8 saves.

Ryne Mantooth took the loss, allowing just three earned runs in eight innings of work, evening his record at 2-2. Key did not yield an earned run over five, and his record improves to a perfect 4-0. The Tobs are currently at their low water mark of the season at four games below the .500 mark.

The Tobs will take on the Steamers for the second and final time Tuesday night in Edenton, NC. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with radio coverage beginning at 6:45 PM with Eric Kopp. Wilson returns to Fleming Stadium Thursday night after an off day Wednesday to take on the Columbia Blowfish. Gates will open at 6:05 PM on “Thirsty Thursday” and Cornerstone Night at the ball park, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 PM.

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