Tobs nipped by front-running Pilots

HAMPTON, VA. — Wilson Tobs’ miseries continued Wednesday night against a rampaging Peninsula Pilots team that took another step toward adding second-half supremacy to its first-half top finish in the East Division of the Coastal Plain League.

Carlos Pena’s two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning snapped a 3-3 tie and sent the Pilots to a 5-4 squeaker in collegiate summer league baseball action. Wilson only defeated Peninsula once and, after Wednesday night’s win, the Pilots own a 5 1/2-game lead in the East Division second-half and overall standings. The regular season ends July 27.

The Tobs, at 22-17, fell a game behind the second-place Wilmington Sharks (24-17). Because of Peninsula’s dominance, the team with the second-best overall record will be the other East Division representative in the Petitt Cup playoffs to crown the 2024 champion. Wilson tumbled to 7-8 in the second-half standings and into a three-way tie for second place with the Sharks and Salamanders. Peninsula sets the pace at 12-2 and is a sizzling 28-10 overall.

The Tobs will be back in Wilson’s Fleming Stadium on Thursday night to oppose the Holly Springs Salamanders. Promotions are Paint the Park Pink NIght and a twice-postponed fireworks display.

The Tobs owned a 1-0 lead after the first inning and were up 3-2 after the second inning Wednesday. The Pilots knotted the score at 3-3 in the third and Pena, following a Grayson Fitzwater single, slammed his second to 2024 homer against Wilson reliever Hunter Dyck.

Wilson struck in the first when Cole Robinson singled, moved up on an error and dashed home on catcher Chase Waddell’s single. In the second, with two outs, A.J. Jones walked; third baseman Jack Kail singled and Chris Amparo delivered a two-run double. However, Wilson starting pitcher Jacob Dienes, a Wilson homeschool and North Carolina State product, failed to get out of the third inning. The left-hander allowed three hits, three runs, all earned; and three walks, while striking out four.

For Peninsula in the second, Jorsixt Jemenez’s single, a walk and Jackson Tone’s single plated a run. Later, Coleman Calabrese and Tone executed a double steal, with Calabrese scoring. In the Pilots’ half of the third, Ryan Dooley’s single, an error and a walk loaded the bases, resulting in Dienes being relieved by right-hander Sebastian Khan. Khan allowed a bases-loaded walk to tie the score before inducing a double play to end the inning.

The score stayed at 3-3 until Pena connected in the fifth.Wilson wasted a threat in the fifth, but stirred again in the seventh. With Walker Fuller working in relief for the Pilots, the Tobs’ Mackenzie Wainwright lashed a triple and scored on a passed ball.

Cayiden Oschenfeld, the fifth Peninsula pitcher, claimed the save, allowing no hits the final two innings and surviving two walks. Dyck took the loss for the Tobs, who were hurt by eight walks from five pitchers.

The Tobs outhit Peninsula, 11-6, as Kail and Waddell each rapped three hits Ending a mini-slump, Kail went 3 for 5 to hike his average to .348. Waddell turned in a 3-for-4 outing. Robinson batted 2 for 5. Amparo was left with a .306 average.Dylan Merrill, the second Peninsula pitcher, got the win. Ryan Dooley was the only Pilots’ batter with two hits.

Score by innings:

Wilson 120 000 100—4

Peninsula 021 020 00x—5

W-Dylan Merrill 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO. L-Hunter Dyck 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 SO.

LEADING HITTERS — Wilson: Chase Waddell 3-4, RBI; Jack Kail 3-5, Cole Robinson 2-5, Mackenzie Wainwright 1-4, 3B; Chris Amparo 1-5, 2B, 2 RBIs. Peninsula: Ryan Dooley 2-3, Carlos Pena 1-3, HR, 2 RBI; Jorsixt Jemenez 1-2, RBI; Jaclson Tone 1-2, RBI.

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