Slow And Steady Wins The Race
July 6, 2012 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilmington Sharks News Release
Wilmington, N.C. - It wasn't the nine hits compiled by the Wilmington Sharks (18-13) that led them to a 4-2 victory over the Edenton Steamers (21-10), but the seven free passes taken that helped the home team walk by the visitors.
Both pitching staffs had trouble finding the strike zone, with the nine pitchers used between both teams combining to issue 13 walks. Each of the two runs scored by Edenton were credited to runners who reached base on four balls, leading off the third and fourth innings against Nick Price.
After the Steamers got on the board first in the third, which was their first time putting a runner on base, Wilmington responded with a pair in the bottom of the same frame. Lloyd Enzor reached on an error, advancing to second on the play, then came around after Scott Coleman and Alex Freedman singles. Jeff May followed with the third straight hit, which scored Coleman to give the Sharks a 2-1 advantage for the time being.
Once Edenton plated another run in the fourth, all was quiet with a 2-2 draw until the eighth. Each of the first six Sharks reached base to start the inning, despite no hits being recorded. Andrew Valencia drew a walk, Brad Shaban was hit by his league-leading 12th pitch, and Grayson Atwood also took a free pass before the first out was recorded. That came on a fielder's choice, as Valencia was taken out at home with Cole McInturff keeping the bases loaded. Casey Goss and Aaron Preston each watched the balls go by, scoring Shaban for the game winning run and Atwood for insurance.
Andrew Brockett earned his sixth save of the summer on his 20th birthday, although he did get in a jam for his second consecutive outing. He walked runners to first and second with one out in the ninth, but then struck out his second and third batters of the inning to close out the game.
Goss extended his hitting streak to eight games, matching Edenton's hit total on the night with a 2-for-4 evening at the plate. Nick Price took his fifth no-decision, though the Sharks have won all six games he has started. Wes Hatley earned his third win of the year by pitching a perfect eighth inning.
The Sharks travel to Wilson on Friday and return home for the Morehead City Marlins on Saturday, then an exhibition against UNCW alumni to benefit Bryan Britt at 2 p.m. on Sunday. For more on the Sharks, visit wilmingtonsharks.com, add Sharky Sharks on Facebook and follow @ILMSharks on Twitter.
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Coastal Plain League Stories from July 6, 2012
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- Late Inning Surge Powers Tobs to Victory - Wilson Tobs
- Blowfish Throttle Copperheads - Lexington County Blowfish
- Tobs Smoke out Visiting Sharks - Wilmington Sharks
- Owls Slide Continues in Gastonia - Forest City Owls
- Steamers Come Back on Pilots Again - Edenton Steamers
- Blowfish Home Tonight - Lexington County Blowfish
- Sharks and UNCW Alumni to Play Charity Game on Sunday - Wilmington Sharks
- Post Game Concert Tonight - High Point-Thomasville HiToms
- Slow And Steady Wins The Race - Wilmington Sharks
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