Sharks Defeat Pilots 6-4, Advance to Eastern Division Championship
August 7, 2015 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release
Wilmington, NC - Sam Foy and Alex Destino homered as the Wilmington Sharks (31-25) defeated the Peninsula Pilots (29-27) by a score of 6-4 on Friday night at the Shark Tank in Wilmington, ending Peninsula's quest for a 3-peat. The Sharks will await the winner of the Edenton vs. Holly Springs matchup, where Edenton has a 1-0 edge.
Wilmington jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, following Foy's solo homerun in the second and Alex Destino's eighth homer of the summer in the third to bring in two. Sharks starter Mike Castellani kept the Pilots at arms length, allowing just two hits through the first five innings. Peninsula began to show some life in the sixth.
Danny Valdez lead the charge with a double to begin the sixth. Castellani got the leadoff Connor Myers to fly out to right field before allowing an RBI single to Garrett Brooks. Castellani walked Jimmy Kerrigan to end his night on the bump. Will Shepherd welcomed Kevin Boswick to the mound with a double to score Brooks and Kerrigan to tie the ballgame.
Thursday night, Kennard McDowell was the hero with a solo homerun in the eighth inning to lift the Sharks to a 1 run victory. One night later, McDowell came through again, this time with a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning to break the tie. Andy Austin singled in the seventh, moved to second on a wild pitch, and would later come around to score on another to give the home team a 5-3 advantage over the reigning Petitt Cup champions.
The Sharks picked up a little wiggle room in the eight inning. With two away in the frame, Matt Whatley drew a walk. Kyle Nowlin drew another walk immediately after him. Whatley would score from second on Foy's laced single to left-center. Foy finished the ballgame 2-4 with 2RBIs and his first homerun of the summer.
Peninsula picked up a run in the first after Evan Brabrand walked the leadoff man, who eventually scored on an RBI sacrifice-fly by Danny Valdez. With the top of the order standing in and down to their final out, Brabrand shut the door by striking out Connor Myers to collect his fifth save of the season.
Once a winner has been determined in the Edenton vs. Holly Springs matchup, tickets will become available for sale for the Eastern Division Championship beginning Sunday, August 9th. Tickets will be available on www.wilmingtonsharks.com and can also be obtained by calling the Sharks front office at 910-343-5621.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from August 7, 2015
- Sharks End Pilots' Quest for Three-Peat - Peninsula Pilots
- Sharks Defeat Pilots 6-4, Advance to Eastern Division Championship - Wilmington Sharks
- Headed to the Second Round: Blowfish Sweep Copperheads - Lexington County Blowfish
- Grizzlies Sweep Florence, Advance to West Finals - Gastonia Grizzlies
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