Sharks advance to Second Round of Petitt Cup playoffs
August 6, 2011 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release
For the second consecutive night, the Wilmington Sharks took an early lead over the Fayetteville Swampdogs and again posted a double-digit score as they will advance to the second round of the 2011 CPL Petitt Cup playoffs after a 12-1 win over the host Swampdogs Saturday night.
The Sharks will begin the second round with a home game on Monday night against Edenton, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and first pitch scheduled for 7:05.
To go along with the offense, the Sharks received their second-consecutive solid start, this time from Jake Mayers, who finished his night with seven innings pitched while giving up just four hits and one run as he struck out 10 Fayetteville batters.
Offensively, the Sharks scored one run in the top of the second inning before seeing Fayetteville tie the game in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own. Wilmington never looked back from there, scoring two runs in both the third and fifth innings before posting a six-run seventh inning in the win.
Kenny Bryant led the Sharks with a four-hit, two RBI night and Alex Freedman tallied three hits in the win. Mayers, Justyn Carter, and Aaron Preston and Cam Cockman each had two-hit nights, with Cockman tallying three RBIs, Carter finishing with two RBIs and Mayers and Preston had an RBI apiece.
In the second inning, Jake Mayers started the inning with a single to left-center field before advancing around the bases via a wild pitch and bunt, he was driven home on Cockman's single into left field.
After Fayetteville scored its run in the bottom of the second after a leadoff double, the Sharks never looked back in the win.
In the third inning, Preston opened the frame with a triple into the right field corner before Carter followed with a single of his own to bring home Preston. Two batters later with Carter at third base, Aldrich grounded into a double play that gave him an RBI as Carter came home to score.
Kenny Bryant opened the sixth with a bunt single before Cockman joined him on the basepaths as he reached on an error. Two batters later, Preston stepped in and singled home Bryant before Cockman also came home after the ball was bobbled in left field.
The Sharks blew the game open in the seventh, as they sent 11 batters to the plate.
Freedman walked to begin the inning before Aldrich followed with a single into the right field corner to put runners at first and third as Jake Mayers delivered an RBI single to right that plated Freedman as Aldrich advanced to third. Bryant continued the hitting line with a single of his own into right field that brought Aldrich home.
Cockman stepped in and drove home runs No. three and four of the inning when he singled to left field and Mayers and Bryant. After a Preston walk, Carter continued the inning with another single to left that plated Cockman before Preston later scored on a wild pitch for the sixth run of the inning.
Wilmington added one final run in the ninth as Freedman singled before Bryant doubled to right-center to bring home run No. 12 of the night.
The Sharks will open the Second Round of the 2011 CPL Petitt Cup playoffs on Monday night as they will take on the Edenton Steamers at 7:05 with gates opening at 6 p.m. Tickets can be obtained by calling the Sharks office at 343-5621.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from August 6, 2011
- Grizzles down HiToms to advance - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Fayetteville's Season Ends with 12-1 Loss to Wilmington in Game 3 - Fayetteville SwampDogs
- Sharks advance to Second Round of Petitt Cup playoffs - Wilmington Sharks
- Tobs WebPass Broadcaster to Finish Season with Kinston Indians - Coastal Plain
- Burns Sends Steamers into Second Round - Edenton Steamers
- 2011 Season In Review - Morehead City Marlins
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