Pilots Advance to Petitt Cup Championship
August 14, 2013 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Peninsula Pilots News Release
The Peninsula Pilots defeated rivals, Edenton Steamers, in Game 3 of the East Division Semifinals 4-1 on Tuesday night in Edenton allowing the Pilots to advance to the Petitt Cup Championship Series.
With the win on Tuesday night, the Pilots will advance to the 2013 Petitt Cup Championship Series against the Columbia Blowfish. The series begins on Thursday night in Hampton before heading to Columbia for games 2 and 3 on Friday and Saturday night.
Scott Burkett (Longwood) broke a 1-1 tie in the 7th inning with a two-run double with two outs to put the Pilots ahead 3-1. Jordan Negrini (Old Dominion) started the inning with a single up the middle. After two flyouts, Matt Dickason (Longwood) beat out an infield single, putting two runners on for Burkett. Burkett lined a 2-2 pitch to center field wall, scoring Negrini and Dickason, putting the Pilots on top by two.
The Pilots added an important insurance run in the 7th with the help of an error by the Steamers. Bradon Reitano (Mount Olive) walked and then stole second. After a fly out, Negrini hit a slow roller to third base and on the throw over, the 1st baseman couldn't corral the throw and the ball skipped away. Reitano was able to scamper home for an important insurance run as the Steamers infield went scrambling after the ball.
The Pilots broke through with a RBI single by Reitano in the 3rd inning. After a strikeout to start the inning, Garrett Brooks (East Carolina) and Patrick Grady (Lander) reached on back to back walks setting up Reitano's single.
The Steamers knotted the game at one in the 5th inning with a Nick Thompson (East Carolina) RBI single which scored Alex Delgado (Emmanuel), who singled and advanced on a wild pitch.
was led with 2-for-4 efforts by Thompson and Nick Miller (Northern Colorado). The Pilots had a 2-for-4 night from Grady as well as the most important hit of the night from Burkett to put the Pilots ahead.
Jared Lyons (Liberty) got the call for the Pilots in the rubber match of the series. He responded well dealing 5 2/3 innings, giving up a run on five hits and striking out two, putting the Pilots in a position to win. Wes McGuire (Spartanburg Methodist) followed in relief with a big out to keep the game tied in the 6th. Brandon Vick (Longwood) followed with three scoreless innings for the save, striking out Delgado for the last out of the game to get out of the jam.
John Williams (George Mason) was charged with the loss, tossing six innings, giving up three runs and striking out four. Jeremy Bales (Lee) followed with two innings giving up an unearned run. Rohn Pierce (Canisius) followed with a scoreless 9th inning.
For more information regarding the season, please visit www.peninsulapilots.com. For up to the minute details on Pilots Baseball be sure to "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @PeninsulaPilots. Use the #PilotsNation to spread the word about the Pilots!
The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 17th season in 2013, the CPL features 14 teams playing North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 1,100 alumni drafted and 64 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com and follow us via Twitter @CPLBaseball.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from August 14, 2013
- Pilots Advance to Petitt Cup Championship - Peninsula Pilots
- Ninth Inning Rally Comes up short - Edenton Steamers
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