Tobs heat up, hammer Yard Gnomes, 16-6

Neither a game-time temperature of 97 degrees nor a 4-0 deficit fazed the Wilson Tobs baseball team in Coastal Plain collegiate summer baseball action Saturday in Fleming Stadium.

Paced by second baseman Jack Kail with a scorching five hits in six at-bats, Wilson shook off 4-0 and 6-3 deficits to shell the Greenville Yard Gnomes, 16-6.

The Tobs shortened the game three outs via the 10-run lead rule with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the eighth inning. Wilson walked off on a Hector Candelas single that produced the 10-run cushion with two outs in the inning.

Of the game being three outs away from being completed, Kail reasoned: “It saved another arm.”

With Kail becoming the first Tobs player to notch five hits in a game this season, Wilson drilled Greenville pitching for 15 hits. Kail’s hits included a pair of doubles. He drove in four runs from the lead-off spot and delivered three of the hits on two-strike pitches.

Kail was complemented by Candelas with a 3-for-4 showing that included four RBIs and a double, and Chris Amparo at 3 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. Every member of the Wilson lineup scored a run.

The Tobs remained undefeated in the second-half standings at 4-0 and tied with first-half winner Peninsula, also 4-0. Wilson, which saw its game Sunday as the guest of the Tri-City Chili Peppers suspended by rain, moved to 19-9 overall. The Tobs will host Peninsula on Monday night. The Yard Gnomes dropped to 2-2 in second-half outings.

“I was 100% satisfied,” said Tobs head coach Noah Cartwright. “A win like tonight especially feels really good because we were firing on all cylinders. Overall, 1 through 9 in the lineup, we did a lot better.”

Greenville head coach Jack Shaffer described the outcome as one of youth versus experience.

“I daresay we are the youngest team in the league,” Shaffer commented. “We’ve got experience with just a few guys. We are going through a little bit of growing pains. But we are growing up and that’s really beginning to show up. That’s awesome to see.

“(Wilson) is good. They are an experienced team and usually at the top of the league. Our margin of error is incredibly small, and we made too many mistakes.”

But not early.

The Gnomes struck for four runs in the third against starting Wilson pitcher Brady Pacha. First baseman Danny Ramirez capped the uprising with a three-run home run, a blast that sailed over the high wall and out of the park in right-center field. Greenville added two runs in the fourth against right-handed reliever Brandon Warren, as designated hitter Uriah Walters slapped a two-out, two-run single.

Greenville was blanked the last four innings by Tobs relievers Brad Lewis, Marshall Whitmer, Josh Wise and Sebastian Khan. Working one inning, Whitmer picked up his third win without a loss.

“We weren’t worried when we got down four (runs),” Cartwright contended. “This place is tough to get anything going the first couple of innings because of the shadows. But we got our turn.”

Added Kail: “We are good enough to not be down that many. The offense can score at any time, and the defense played really well.”

The Tobs not only impressed with their two-strike hitting but with their determination to battle when facing two-strike counts.

“Everyone takes it upon themselves to go up there, battle and try to put the ball in play,” Kail said. “I can still do it, but I prefer to hit with the count 0-1. I had rather hit strikes early in the count.”

“He’s on fire,” Cartwright commended Kail, who got five hits in a game for the first time since he has been playing college baseball. “He battles. He fights everything off until he gets the pitch he wants. He is not an easy out at the plate by any means.”

The Tobs chased starting Gnomes’ left-hander Hayden Johnson with three runs in the third inning. Candelas and Luke Walton each singled. A run in the fourth trimmed Greenville’s lead to 6-4.

Amparo and Kail hit safely in the three-run fifth, when speedy center fielder Mike Kelly darted from first base to third on an error at first base. The Tobs went ahead for keeps at 7-6.

First baseman Cole Robinson and Candelas each doubled in the four-run sixth. Kail singled. In the eighth, Amparo’s double, a single by third baseman Jared Beebe of Barton College, and Kail’s double preceded Candelas’ walk-off single.

Kelly reached base four times, stole two bases, scored three runs and had an RBI.

“It’s huge any time a base hit turns into a double,” Kail said in recognition of Kelly’s speed. “He definitely puts pressure on the defense. It’s big having him in center field.”

Noted Cartwright: “Kelly has finally caught fire again. He’s starting to play his game.”

As did most Tobs’ players Saturday night.

Thus, the mission to win the second-half East Division and earn a spot in the Petitt Cup playoffs continues.

“We have to compete, play hard as we can every day and every day is a new day,” Kail remarked. “We had the lead for a lot of the first half, but we had a couple of tough games (at the end). But it didn’t discourage us at all.”

Score by innings:

YardGnomes 004 200 00  —  6

Tobs 003 134 05  —  16

W-Marshall Whitmer (3-0) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 0 SO.  L-Andrew Hanson 2/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 0 S0,

LEADING HITTERS — Greenville: Danny Ramirez 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs; Uriah Walters 2-3, 3 RBIs; Dave Brannigan 1-2, Gage Griggs 1-3, 2 R. Wilson: Jack Kail 5-6, 2 2B, 4 RBIs, 2 R; Jared Beebe 2-5, RBI, 2 R; Chris Amparo 3-4, 2B, 2 RBIs, 2 R; Hector Candelas 3-4, 2B, 4 RBIs, 2 R; Mike Kelly 1-2, RBI, 3 R, Luke Walton 2-5, Cole Robinson 1-5, 2B, 2 R.

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