Article and Photograph by Kari Hodges

WILMINGTON, NC- The Wilmington Sharks welcomed back the Savannah Bananas for a
second time at the Shark Tank this month. Storms in the forecast did not deter a sold-out crowd
from packing the stands to see The Sharks take the win over the Bananas with over 2,323 fans in
attendance. With the first half of the season ending, Savannah had clinched the Coastal Plain
League West Divisional Championship making them the team to beat in the second half.
The Bananas led on the board for the first six innings by scoring two runs early in the first. A
single to right field by Andrew Ciufo (Georgetown University) ran Pat Monteith (North
Greenville) and Scott Bandura (Princeton University) into home and tied the game in the bottom
of the sixth. The Bananas were scoreless for the remainder of the game as the Sharks clinched
the win with three more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Wyatt Crenshaw (Colorado Christian
University) hit a double into right field, sending Ciufo home and putting the Sharks above the
Bananas. Mason Landers’ (Belmont University) at bat allowed AJ Mendolia (University of
Central Arkansas) to run home alongside teammate Wyatt Crenshaw. Andrew Ciufo was a stand-
out hitter tonight as he had three hits, one run and two RBIs during four at bats.
Alex Logusch (Jefferson) threw the first pitches of the night and allowed the only two runs for
the Bananas. Peyton Consigli (Canisius College) stepped in and threw an incredible five innings.
Consigli faced nineteen batters, striking out six Bananas and walked away with only two hits.
His 0.64 ERA allowed the Bananas to come out scoreless throughout his five innings and
ultimately put the Sharks on top. Nash Bryan (Seton Hill) relieves Consigli in the top of the
eighth and walks one batter. Caiden Wood (Seton Hill) closes the game and prevents a comeback
for Savannah in the top ninth by striking out one batter. The Sharks celebrate a 5-2 victory over
the Bananas in the bottom of the ninth.
The Sharks will face Savannah one last time on July 30th in Savannah, Georgia. The Sharks are
on the road to Holly Springs to play the Salamanders on July 30th, with first pitch scheduled at
7:05pm and available to watch on FloSports. The team returns home for the weekend on Friday,
July 1st to face Holly Springs, July 2nd against Morehead City and July 3rd against Wilson.
Tickets for the next home game are available for purchase at wilmingtonsharks.com and by
calling 910-343-5621.