With the halfway mark of the season behind us, the Wilmington Sharks continue their struggle towards the top.

Weekly Review July 1st

Wilmington 12
Peninsula 6

Leaving a trail of runners on base all the way back to the Outer Banks, the Sharks pounded out 12 runs on 19 hits to beat Peninsula and get back in the win column. 

The Sharks got things started early plating two runs in the first inning thanks to Justice French two out RBI single.  After four errors in the bottom of the first inning helped the Pilots to three runs off starter Bryant Gaines, the Sharks bounced right back to plate three in the second to retake the lead for good. 

The inning started when Neal Pritchard singled with one down.  After an error on a Bobby Leeper grounder, runners were at the corners when Kolby Epley singled one home.  Singles by Cory Lyda and Mike Alvarez drove in two more to give the Sharks the lead for good.

The route was on with the Sharks plating multiple runs in the third, fifth, and sixth to give Gaines and relievers Kyle Deese and Cory Burgess all the support they needed.

Gaines pitched into the 7th inning yet again giving up just one earned run to pick up his second win on the season.  Through his six plus he allowed just seven hits striking out six.  Deese pitched a perfect inning and one third striking out one.  Despite giving up two runs in his inning of work Burgess worked out of some trouble to finish off the Pilots.

Multiple Sharks has their hottest offense nights of the season up in Peninsula.  Alvarez led the way getting on base five times with two doubles, two singles and a walk.  Epley continued his climb up the offensive charts going 4-5 with 2 RBI.  Daniel Parker made his first start at third base, knocking in two runs on three hits.  Pritchard added three hits and an RBI of his own.

Wilmington 11
Florence 3

After being just a game under the .500 mark five previous times the Sharks left no doubt about reaching the mark tonight pounding out the 11-3 win over the Florence Redwolves. 
 
Matt Freeman started and with the help of Tyler White out of the pen, they made the runs hold up. Freeman threw six strong giving up just two runs on seven hits to pick up his first win. White was his usual self striking out five in his three innings of work.

For the second night in a row the Sharks used early runs to set the tone of the game. Bobby Leeper led things off reaching on a pass ball after striking out. Three singles and a sacrifice later the Sharks had a 3-0 lead.

Kolby Epley followed up a 4-5 Thursday with a 4-5 Friday at the Shark Tank. Ben Kline and Leeper added solo home runs to the scoring mix. Kline's round tripper was an inside the park homer, high off the left field wall.

Leeper's second blast of the season led off a three run 5th that saw Kline drive in another insurance run. A pair of runs in both the 6th and 8th set the score at 11-3 where it stayed to give the Sharks their second straight win.

Wilmington 8
Florence 3

A little bit of rain did the Sharks good as they pounded out five runs after a delay in Florence to beat the Redwolves 8-3.  The Sharks picked up runs early on in the ballgame with one in the 2nd and two in the 3rd.

John Nester and Justice French got things started with back to back singles. Nester scored on a double play ball off the bat of Ben Kline. The Sharks picked up two more in the third when a Kolby Epley grounder brought home Matt Kirchner. With two down Mike Alvarez came up big with a two out single.

Eric Callender pitched well through six holding the Wolves to just three runs on six hits. He held Florence off the board through his final three innings of work to hand the tie off to Mike Rudman who struck out six in his three innings. Rudman threw a perfect inning before the rain delay, then never missed a beat retiring the final six batters in a row.

The first four batters back from the rain delay singled for the Sharks to give them the three run lead. Cory Lyda scored the tie breaking run on a base hit by Nester. Daniel Parker would pick up another hit to drive in two more. The Sharks added more insurance runs in the 9th to cruise to the win.

Wilmington 2
Wilson 3

The Sharks dropped back to five hundred falling 3-2 in Wilson Monday night. Both teams were held off the board through five innings. Ryan Vander Tuig surrendered just two hits headed into the inning, but the Tobs took a 2-0 lead headed to the 6th. The Sharks would answer though as rain began to fall in the top of the 6th.

With one down Bobby Leeper sped into second with a double to right center. After Kolby Epley was hit by the pitch, a fielders choice put runners on s2nd and 3rd. With two down Mike Alvarez came up big with a single to left to drive in two and tie the score.

The game was delayed by the rain directly after the Alvarez knock. After getting back underway the Sharks threatened but could not tie the score and fell back to even with one half of the Coastal Plain Season gone.

Vander Tuig threw six and two thirds giving up three runs, just two earned. The 6'6" righty worked nine up and nine down the first time through the Tob order. After a single in the bottom of the ninth, Vander Tuig gave way to Kyle Deese who threw one and two thirds innings giving up just an unearned run.