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Wilson starts new streak with late inning magic against Fayetteville

July 8, 2008

Wilson, NC — Through the first six innings of Tuesday’s contest with the Fayetteville SwampDogs, the Tobs looked like the same team that ended their six game winning streak in Wilmington the night before. Fayetteville held a 1-0 lead, and the Tobs were just trying to scrape hits together. However, just three innings later, the Tobs and their fans were celebrating a 5-1 victory over the SwampDogs. With the victory, Wilson holds on to first place in the CPL South with a 6-1 mark, while Fayetteville drops to just 1-4 this half. The Tobs have won three in a row over the SwampDogs since the start of the second half.

Ryne Mantooth got the nod for the Tobs against left hander Aaron Daab for Fayetteville. Both pitchers exchanged zeroes until the top half of the fifth inning, when Mantooth made the only bad pitch of the night. Nick Fleece deposited a hanging curve ball off the scoreboard in left center field for his first homer of the season, giving the SwampDogs a 1-0 lead. Daab was brilliant by keeping the Tobs hitters off balanced. Wilson did not get its first base hit until the fifth, when Packy Elkins reached on a slow dribbler to second base.

Wilson had just two base hits and a walk against Daab heading into the seventh inning. Very quickly and painfully for Fayetteville, things would change. Justin Parks led off with a single, and Kevin Weidenbacher tried to bunt him into scoring position. Weidenbacher bunted it directly back to Daab, and Parks was forced at second. Elkins then tried to bunt his way on, but popped up to Daab. With Cam Freeman at the plate, Weidenbacher advanced to second on a passed ball. Freeman then delivered a much needed two out RBI double to left field, tying the game. Two pitches later, Derek Simmons singled to left, sending Freeman home, and the Tobs never looked back.

Mantooth pitched a perfect eighth inning to complete his outing. After Fleece’s homer in the fifth, he did not allow another SwampDogs hitter to reach base. Daab exited after a seven inning outing, as he was replaced by right hander Nick Chmielewski. The Tobs would pick up three insurance runs against Chmielewski. Chris McGhee led off with a single, and he moved to second on a Matt Sanders ground out.

Chris Henderson then walked, and Justin Parks singled to right, sending McGhee home. With Henderson on third, Kevin Weidenbacher laid down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to give the Tobs their fourth run of the night. Weidenbacher would reach on an infield single, and Elkins completed the Tobs’ scoring for the night as he drove in Parks from third with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Paul Bertuccini pitched a scoreless ninth inning in his fourth appearance as a member of the Tobs. Fayetteville had just three base hits on the night, and Wilson pitchers did not walk a single SwampDogs hitter. Mantooth picked up his fourth victory of the night, while Daab took a tough loss, his third of the year. The Tobs have not lost at Historic Fleming Stadium since Friday, June 27th, when Fayetteville pulled off a 4-1 victory.

Wilson will head to Buck Hardee Field on Wednesday afternoon to take on the Wilmington Sharks in a matinee at 1:05 PM. Despite the early start time, the game will be aired on WUBN 106.9 FM during the 7:00 PM hour. The Tobs return home to Historic Fleming Stadium to play host to the Sharks. Game time is scheduled for 7:05 PM, with gates opening at 6:05 PM on Thirsty Thursday at the ball park. The first 500 fans over the age of 21 in attendance will receive a Tobs’ pint glass presented by Budweiser.

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