The Wilmington Sharks made things interesting in the ninth inning on Wednesday night, but left the tying run 90 feet away as they fell 5-4 to the visiting Fayetteville Swampdogs.

After Fayetteville broke a 2-2 tie by scoring three runs in the top of the eighth, the Sharks rallied only to fall just short.

Jake Mayers led off the ninth by reaching on an error before Kenny Bryant connected on a line drive two-run homer to right field to pull the hosts within one run with no one out.

Fayetteville recorded a strikeout for the first out of the inning before Casey Allison knocked a double to left field to heighten the intensity. But the Swampdogs ended the ideas of a comeback by striking out the final two batters of the night and leave Allison stranded on third base.

Late inning opposition runs spoiled another great effort from a Sharks starting pitcher, as Steven Vaughn threw 8-1/3 innings of six hit baseball, but allowed the two Fayetteville runs in the eighth and left with a no decision.

Jake Mayers led the Sharks with a 3-for4 night at the plate, while Justyn Carter and Allison added two hits apiece in the loss.

Joe Vaskas and Billy Urban each added two hits in the win, with Urban adding two RBIs.

Both teams scored a run in the first inning, with the Sharks taking a one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth only to see Fayetteville again tie the game with a run of their own in the top of the sixth.

The Swampdogs gained the lead after the three-run eighth inning, but Bryant’s homer made things interesting.

The Sharks fall to 3-6 on the season while Fayetteville improves to 7-1. Wilmington will continue its homestand on Thursday night when they host the Carolina Hurricanes from the Carolina-Virginia Collegiate League and will end on Friday night when they host CPL foe Columbia.

Wilmington Sharks player Daniel Aldrich has been named Collegiate Baseball’s Freshman Player of the Year and is a 2011 Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, as selected by Collegiate Baseball newspaper.

As a redshirt-freshman at the College of Charleston, Aldrich was also named the 2011 Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, and found a spot on the All-SoCon First Team.

Daniel Aldrich, Collegiate Baseball's 2011 Freshman Player of the Year.

Aldrich led all Division I freshmen with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs, as well as with his .739 slugging percentage and 164 total bases. He also added 25 multi-hit games in 2011 and had a team-best 17-game hitting streak that spanned over February and March.

Aldrich is also a semifinalist for the 2011 USA Baseball Golden Spike Award, which is awarded to the nation’s top amateur player and he has also been selected as a Louisville Slugger Second Team All-American for his efforts.

“We are extremely happy for Daniel and his accolades after a tremendous season at the College of Charleston. We look forward to him continuing his impressive numbers this summer with the Sharks,” Wilmington general manager Andrew Aguilar said.

In six games with Wilmington through June 7, Aldrich is hitting .250 and has driven in dour RBIs.

The Wilmington Sharks are members of Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league.  Celebrating its 15^th season, The Coastal Plain League features 15 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.  The CPL has had over 700 alumni drafted and 35 alums make their Major League debut thus far.  For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.

Chris Mazza received the news that every player wants to hear on Tuesday night, as he was selected 838^th overall in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft by the Minnesota Twins.

The Clayton, Ca. native was selected in the midst of the Sharks game in Florence on June 7. Mazza, who plays collegiately at Menlo College, did not play in the game.

Chris Mazza was taken 838th overall in the 2011 MLB Draft.

Mazza has appeared in two games for the Sharks this summer, and has not allowed a run in seven total innings of work. In his one start on June 3, Mazza tossed six shutout innings and struck out 10 batters while allowing only four hits.

“On behalf of the entire Sharks organization, I would like to congratulate Chris on his selection in the Major League Baseball Draft. He has been a great player with us both last season and this season, and we wish him the best in the future and with his decision,” Wilmington general manager Andrew Aguilar said.

The Wilmington Sharks are members of Coastal Plain League, the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league.

Celebrating its 15^th season, The Coastal Plain League features 15 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.  The CPL has had over 700 alumni drafted and 35 alums make their Major League debut thus far.  For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.