Pilots Romp Tobs in Home Opener
June 3, 2016 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Peninsula Pilots News Release
HAMPTON, Va. - The Peninsula Pilots used a well-balanced offensive attack and spectacular pitching to win their home opener with a 10-0 romp of the Wilson Tobs on Friday night at War Memorial Stadium.
Kyle McPherson (James Madison) had three hits while Nick Walker (Old Dominion) added two hits and scored four runs. A trio of pitchers scattered two hits and posted 11 strikeouts on the night to improve the Pilots' record to 3-0 in the young season.
After trading zeroes in the first two innings, the Pilots got on the scoreboard in the third inning. Walker led off the inning with a walk before he stole second. After two quick outs, Will Shepherd (Liberty) drew a walk to put runners on the corners and Franco Guardascione (Jacksonville) doubled to right center to score Walker and put the Pilots on the board.
Peninsula added to their lead with a three-run fourth inning with a two-out rally. Josh Close (Liberty) reached on a fielder's choice after an Evan Fernandez (Jacksonville) double. Walker doubled to right-center to score Close to put the Pilots ahead 2-0. Kyle McPherson (James Madison) followed with a single up the middle to score Walker before a throwing error allowed McPherson to also score on the same play to give the Pilots a 4-0 advantage.
The Pilots added another run in the fifth with a RBI fielder's choice by Logan Augustine (Lincoln Memorial) before cashing in three more runs with a bases clearing triple by Will Shepherd (Liberty) in the sixth to put the game well out of reach.
Behind a well-balanced offensive attack, lefty Welby Malcczewski (Auburn) hurled 5 2/3 shutout innings and had eight strikeouts. The Mt. Prospect, Ill., native kept the Tobs off balance by only allowing one hit, which was a two-out single by former Pilot, Jimmy Latona (Mercyhurst), in the third inning.
Peninsula tacked on two more runs in the eighth on a RBI groundout by Kurt Sinnen (Old Dominion) and on a fielder's choice to cap the scoring for the Pilots.
Alex Mauricio (Norfolk State) struck out the lone batter he faced before giving way to Chris Gau (Jacksonville) who pitched the final three innings of his first save of the season. The hard throwing right-hander gave up a hit and struck out two in his brief appearance. Brady Hill (Belmont Abbey) took the loss for the Tobs after giving up four runs in four innings of work.
The Pilots hit the road for two straight road games with a matchup in Holly Springs on Saturday night. After an off day on Sunday, the Pilots travel to Petersburg on Monday before kicking off a stretch of six straight home games at War Memorial Stadium with a matchup on Tuesday night against Fayetteville for Poquoson Night. 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 and Instagram @PeninsulaPilots. Use the #PilotsNation to spread the word about the Pilots!
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Coastal Plain League Stories from June 3, 2016
- Sharks Drop 3rd Straight - Wilmington Sharks
- Pilots Romp Tobs in Home Opener - Peninsula Pilots
- Blowfish Win Third in a Row; Surge Past Grizzlies - Lexington County Blowfish
- Tobs Add Double-Header on Saturday - Wilson Tobs
- Late Rally Falls Short for Grizzlies - Gastonia Grizzlies
- Tobs Win in Wild Affair - Wilson Tobs
- Blowfish Spoil Bananas' Inaugural Home Opener with 8-5 Win - Lexington County Blowfish
- Peninsula Walks Past Edenton - Edenton Steamers
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