Pilots Take Game Three 8-2 over Sharks

August 9, 2013 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release


Hampton, Va. - The Peninsula Pilots (35-23) won the decisive game three in the First Round of the Petitt Cup Playoffs over the Wilmington Sharks (32-25) 8-2 on Friday night as they used a six run seventh inning to propel them to victory and end the Sharks season.

Pat Grady got the Pilots going early in the bottom half of the first inning as he led off with single, his third hit of the series. Jordan Negrini struck again for the Pilots in the same inning as he picked up a single to score Grady and give them an early 1-0 lead.

Brandon Reitano picked up his third hit of the series as he smashed a pitch down the left field line just tucking inside the foul pole for a solo home run in the fifth to give the Pilots a 2-0 lead.

The Sharks fired back and got themselves back into the ballgame in the top half of the seventh as Tyler Slaton singled into left field and then stole second to get into scoring position. Tyler Best put down a sacrifice bunt to move Slaton to third with one out. John Fidanza drew a walk to put runners on the corners and then an infield hit from Zach MacAneney drove in Slaton to make it 2-1. Andrew Amaro tied up the ballgame at 2-2 with a ground out to the right side. The Sharks did have the bases loaded with two outs, but were unable to take the lead.

The Pilots took the lead for good as they had a huge inning in the bottom half of the seventh. Zach Lopes led off with a single and Grady then reached on a fielder's choice which brought Retiano to plate as he singled to load up the bases with no outs.

With the infield in Alex Close hit a blooper into shallow right field to score Lopes and make it 3-2. Negrini did it again at the plate as he hit a chopper into left field to score two more runs and give him eight RBIs during the series and make it 5-2. Bill Cullen added three insurance runs as hit a three run bomb over the right field fence to make it 8-2 and put the game out of reach for the Sharks and end their 2013 season.

Alex Freedman and Zach MacAneney each picked up two hits during the game for the Sharks as Freedman ended the series with five total hits. Jordan Negrini went 3-3 with three RBIs and finished with a total of eight RBIs in series. Wes McGuire was the winning pitcher as he moved his overall record to 2-1 on the year.

The Wilmington Sharks finished a great season as they have now been to the Petitt Cup Playoffs for three straight seasons and look to build off of this year. The Peninsula Pilots will take on the Edenton Steamers in the Second Round of the Petitt Cup Playoffs as game one is slated for Sunday in Hampton, VA.



Coastal Plain League Stories from August 9, 2013


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