For the second consecutive night, the Wilmington Sharks lost to the Morehead City Marlins, this time in Morehead City, by an 8-6 score in CPL South Division action Wednesday night.

The loss drops the Sharks to 9-5 in CPL 2^nd half play and into a cluster of teams at the top of the South Division. Morehead City improves to 9-7 with the win, and Fayetteville now sits at 9-6 after they lost to Petersburg Wednesday night.

Kenny Bryant had two hits in the Sharks' loss on the road Wednesday night.

In Morehead City, the Sharks fell victim to another big inning that proved to be the difference, a theme that is becoming common with the Sharks recently.

Added to the Wilmington disappointment Wednesday night was that the Sharks had four runs on the board before Morehead City responded, including with a five-run third inning.

Kenny Bryant and Emilio Pagan each turned in two-hit performances for the Sharks as each also drove home an RBI on the night. Jeff Moyer also had two RBIs in the loss, while Daniel Aldrich had one RBI as each had one hit for Wilmington.

Sharks starter Zach Taylor fell to 2-2 on the summer after going just 2-1/3 innings and allowing 11 hits and seven runs.

The Sharks jumped ahead early with three runs in the first inning off of four hits, with Alex Freedman singling before Bryant doubled and drove him home. After Jake Mayers walked, Aldrich singled to center field to bring home Bryant for the second run of the night.

Two batters later, Pagan stepped in and delivered a two-out double that plated Mayers to give the Sharks a 3-0 lead after one half inning.

In the top of the second, Aaron Preston opened the inning with a walk and advanced around the bases via a groundout and passed ball before scoring when Moyer singled to right field.

After seeing Morehead City score two runs in the bottom of the second inning off of four hits, the Sharks extended their lead in the top of the third when Jacob Leonardo reached on a hit by pitch before advancing to second on a passed ball. After Pagan walked, both baserunners advanced via a passed ball before Leonardo came in to score on a third passed ball in the inning.

Morehead City took the lead for good in the bottom of the third in their five-run inning when they had five hits in the inning.

In the sixth inning, the Sharks cut the lead to one run when Preston leadoff the inning with a walk before advancing around the bases via a Marlins error and passed ball before scoring on Moyer’s RBI sacrifice fly that brought the score to 7-6.

Morehead City rounded out the scoring in the seventh when they scored on a hit, a pair of walks and a fielders’ choice.

The Sharks return home on Thursday night when they welcome the Catawba Valley Stars to the Shark Tank on another Fat Tony’s Thirsty Thursday with $1 beverages. It is also United Way Shirts off our Back Night with gates opening at 6 p.m. and first pitch scheduled for 7:05.

Performing National Anthem and More Beginning at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday

The RockNRoll Chorus is making a stop in Wilmington on their national tour on Wednesday, July 27.

The Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League have announced that Wednesday, July 27, The RockNRoll Chorus will be performing live at the Shark Tank.

The RockNRoll Chorus is a nationally-renowned group of the best high school-aged singers in the country that perform a cappella with no instruments.

The group is performing at over 25 locations this summer, a tour that began July 4^th weekend and traveling into October, including at the Frontier League All-Star game and Walt Disney World as well as being the opening acts for The Nerds, Journey and Foreigner along their tours.

Wednesday night, July 27, the Sharks will be hosting the Florence Redwolves in a CPL South Division showdown. As always, it will be another Miller Motte/Sunny 104.5 Kid’s Eat Free Wednesday Night.

Gates open at 6 p.m. with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05. Fans can purchase their tickets in advance at http://www.wilmingtontickets.com/ or by calling the Sharks at 910-343-5621 and on the web at http://wilmingtonsharks.com/.

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 930 alumni drafted and 45 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.

Wearing Special Jerseys on Friday Night

The Wilmington Sharks of the Coastal Plain League have announced that Friday, July 22 will be McDonald’s McJersey McAuction Night where the Sharks will be wearing special jerseys that will be auctioned during the game with all money going towards the Ronald McDonald Houses of North Carolina.

Anyone wishing to participate in the auction can bid on specific player jerseys during the game on the main concourse inside the Shark Tank, and those unable to attend the game can also bid online via the link on the top of the team’s homepage at www.wilmingtonsharks.com.

Bids start at $50 per jersey.

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.

One big inning was the difference on Tuesday night, as the Wilmington Sharks (9-4) fell to the visiting Morehead City Marlins 5-3 in CPL South Division action.

The Sharks, who came into the night with a half-game lead over the Fayetteville Swampdogs for first place in the CPL South Division, will remain a half-game up after Fayetteville fell to the Outer Banks Daredevils on the road.

Chris O'Grady struck out eight batters but took the loss on Tuesday night.

Wilmington saw the Marlins (8-7) plate four runs in the fifth inning which featured a couple of tough-luck plays be the difference.

Up one run, Morehead City tallied five hits in the fifth, four of which never left the infield. The Marlins sent nine batters to the plate in the inning.

The Sharks responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the fifth, when Jeff Moyer singled, Alex Freedman walked and Jacob Leonardo singled to load the bases with no one out.

Scott Coleman stepped in and grounded into a double play, but Moyer scored to put the Sharks on the scoreboard. Now with two outs and one runner on, Justyn Carter lined a double down the first base line to bring home Freedman and pull Wilmington to within three at 5-2.

The game remained that way until the bottom of the ninth, when Ricardo Lizcano leadoff the inning with a walk and Jake Mayers followed by reaching on an error. With two on and no outs, Daniel Aldrich popped up into foul territory before Moyer hit a sacrifice fly that brought home Lizcano. Freedman ended the game one batter later when he grounded out.

The Sharks finished with only five hits, two coming from Carter, who also drew a walk and had an RBI in the loss. Moyer, Leonardo and Coleman each had a hit apiece, while Freedman drew two walks.

Sharks starter Chris O’Grady (2-2) was saddled with the tough-luck loss, going six innings and striking out eight Marlins, but gave up five runs on nine hits.

The Sharks and Marlins play again on Wednesday night, this time in Morehead City, before the Sharks return home to host the Catawba Valley Stars on another Fat Tony’s Thirsty Thursday.

Three Wilmington Sharks All-Stars fell on the wrong side of the outcome in the 2011 Coastal Plain League All-Star Game in Fayetteville on Monday night, falling 3-2.

Sharks 2011 All-Stars Jake Mayers, Justyn Carter and Daniel Aldrich.

The Sharks’ All-Stars all played in the game, with Jake Mayers starting at third base for the American team and tally a hit in his two at-bats. Daniel Aldrich played the final three innings of the night and finished 0-for-1, while Justyn Carter came on defensively in the ninth but did not have a plate appearance.

Morehead City first baseman Zach Stephens connected on a deep home run to left in the top of the ninth to score two and give the National All-Stars the win over the American All-Stars.

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the third, Thomasville’s Patrick Koontz led off with a triple to right-center field off Edenton’s Brooks Fiala. One out later, Fayetteville’s Eric Grabe brought Koontz home for the first run of the game off an RBI-single to left. Wilmington’s Jake Mayers connected on a two-out single to short to put runners at first and second for the American squad. Forest City’s Axel Johnson then scored Grabe off a RBI-single up the middle, giving the Americans a 2-0 lead after three.

The National All-Stars answered right back in the top of the fourth. Edenton’s Ryan Brenner walked to lead the inning off. He stole second and then advanced to third on a fly out by Martinsville’s Anthony Nunziato. With two outs, Morehead City’s Chase McDonald singled up the middle off of Fayetteville’s Cody Davis to score Brenner and make it 2-1 American All-Stars.

Trailing 2-1 and down to their last three outs in the top of the ninth, the Nationals got on base with a leadoff single by Edenton’s Brian Blasik. Then, Stephens hit a bomb to left for two RBIs and to give the National All-Stars their first lead of the game at 3-2.

Wilson’s Tony Wieber took the mound for the National All-Stars in the bottom of the ninth to try and close the door.  Wieber walked one of four batters he faced, retiring the others to earn the save and seal a 3-2 victory for the National CPL All-Stars.

Edenton’s Jordan Egan, who pitched a hitless eighth with a strikeout, earned the win. Meanwhile, Gastonia’s Derek Epps was charged with the loss.

After the game, the CPL honored the 2011 Rawlings Coastal Plain League Offensive and Defensive Players of the All-Star Game as voted upon by the media in attendance. Stephens was selected as the Offensive Player of the All-Star Game after going 1-for-2 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Meanwhile, Morehead City’s Shawn Armstrong was named the Defensive Player of the All-Star Game after pitching one inning of hitless baseball and striking out three.

Sunday night, the Sharks’ Aldrich defeated Johnson in the 2011 CPL All-Star Home Run Derby. Aldrich tied the CPL record for most home runs with 18 for 50 points to be crowned the champion.

Jake Mayers started at third base and tallied one hit on Monday night.