Tobs tumble further back of Pilots in return to action

HAMPTON, Va. — Right out of the gate after the Coastal Plain League All-Star Game break, the Wilson Tobs had a chance to pick up ground on the Peninsula Pilots atop the East Division.

It didn’t happen.

Instead, the Tobs extended their losing streak to six games as they fell into third place in the East with a 14-4 loss in seven innings at War Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night. Wilson, now 5-6 in the second half, is tied with the Wilmington Sharks for third place behind Peninsula (9-1) and the Holly Springs Salamanders (6-6).

On a brighter note for the Tobs as they sink further in the second half, Wilson is 20-15 overall and just a game behind the Sharks (21-14) for the second-best overall record in the East. Since Peninsula, a CPL-best 25-9, won the first-half title, the second spot in the Petitt Cup playoffs will go to the team with the next-best overall record.

Wednesday’s game turned ugly early for the Tobs as the Pilots scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning without getting a hit. Wilson starting pitcher Andrew Simone walked the first three batters before unleashing a wild pitch and then hitting Pilots clean-up batter Henry Garcia. That ended Simone’s stint without getting an out.

The Pilots broke the game open the next inning with six runs on three hits and three walks by Wilson pitcher Ethan Wilford, Josh Wise and Carson Everette. Cole Stanford poked a two-run single for Peninsula while Ryan Dooley slugged his second home run of the summer for two more runs.

Garcia ripped a three-run homer in the third and the Pilots tacked on two more runs in the fourth for a 14-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Penisula starter Brian Ereu was sharp in posting his third win without a loss. The right-hander from the University of Arts and Science of Oklahoma went five shutout innings without walking anyone. He gave up five hits and struck out eight.

The Tobs finally got on the scoreboard in the seventh inning when catcher Jerry Barnes led off with a double, his second of the night, before scoring on a one-out double by second baseman Jack Kail.

Cole Robinson’s groundout brought in another run before outfielder Mackenzie Wainwright’s single plated Kail. Left fielder Hector Candelas rapped a double to bring home Wainwright with two outs to push his batting average to .354. He, Kail and Barnes each had two hits for Wilson while Dooley was 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs for Peninsula. Stanford drove in three runs in a 2-for-3 showing.

The Tobs look to end their skid when they host the Tri-City Chili Peppers for a “Thirsty Thursday” game at Fleming Stadium.

Score by innings:

Tobs 000 000 4 — 4

Pilots 363 200 x — 14

W-Brian Ereu (3-0) 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 SO. L-Andrew Simone (1-2) 0 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 0 SO.

LEADING HITTERS — Wilson: Jack Kail 2-4, 2B, R, RBI; Cole Robinson 1-3, RBI; Hector Candelas 2-4, 2B, RBI; Jerry Barnes 2-3, 2 2Bs, R; A.J. Jones 1-3, 2B, R. Peninsula: Cole Stanford 2-3, 2 R, 3 RBIs; Ryan Dooley 3-3, 2B, HR, 2 R, 2 RBIs; H Walters 1-3, RBI; Henry Garcia 1-1, HR, 2 R, 3 RBIs; Trey Morgan 1-1, 3 R, RBI.

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