Welcome once again into the mind of the Sharks media relations staff.

Things just never seem to come up Wilmington in some close contests this season. Meanwhile one Sharks reliever has come up with some key innings in a couple close games and a starter is getting a second chance at another start this week.

It's "Thirsty Thursday" presented by Front Street Brewery out at the "Shark Tank" tonight. Enjoy dollar beers and sodas all night long when the gates open at 6 p.m. But before heading out to see us, take a look at "Shark Bits" for July 9th.

Last Game Synopsis: The Sharks lost by a single run last
night. As late as the eighth inning Wilmington had the
tying run 90 feet away, but the rally stalled. A single big
inning did the Sharks in as five runs came home for the Tobs
in the fourth to erase a 2-0 Sharks lead. Andrew Guerra
pulled the club closer with a two run home run, his third
of the season.

Snake Bit: A bounce here, a base hit there, something good
somewhere is all it would take to get the Sharks rolling.
But over the last seven games, none of that has happened.
The Sharks have played in five one run games and four extra
inning games over the last seven. Wilmington has dropped
four of the one run contests and two of the games in
extras. On the season the Sharks are 3-8 when the game is
decided by a single run.

Return Of the Harp: Take two for Ryne Harper’s seventh start
of the season. Harper threw an inning and two thirds Monday
before the “Shark Tank” gave way to weather and the game
was called. Harper retired all five batters he faced before
the rains came. On the season Harper is 1-2 with a 3.50 ERA
and 26 strike-outs in 36 innings. The righty is coming off
of two seven inning starts, his best appearances of the
season.

Big Game Hunter: While lefty Hunter Ford got off to a rocky
start in the 2009 campaign, he has shown great stuff in his
last two outings. The All-Star candidate has now thrown two
straight scoreless relief appearances in tightly contested
games. Ford held Asheboro to a single hit and a walk as the
Sharks staged a comeback. Then he allowed just one hit over
three frames to hold Wilson down in a one run game.

Pelican Brief: The Peninsula Pilots are members of the CPL
North division and play their home games in Hampton,
Virginia. With their mascot of Slyder the Pelican at their
side the Pilots went 13-15 through the first half of play.