Tobs 2011 Season Recap

Published on August 3, 2011 under Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain)
Wilson Tobs News Release


WILSON, N.C. (August 3, 2011) - The Wilson Tobs finished the 2011 Coastal Plain League (CPL) season with an overall record of 25-31, placing the team 13th in the 15 team league. The Tobs finished with the fourth best overall record in the CPL North division. In the first half of the season, Wilson went 15-13 to finish third in the division. The Tobs finished the second half 10-18, which was tied for third in the North.

Despite not earning a trip to the Petit Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2003, the year was filled with some memorable moments and record-breaking performances. The Tobs had four winning streaks of at least three games or longer, including a stretch in the first half of the season when the team won eight of nine games after going 1-8 to start the year.

Wilson finished 2011 with winning records against three of its four North division rivals, and the Tobs never lost a game when leading after eight innings. In extra innings Wilson was 1-1, losing its longest game of the year (13 innings, 4:35) to Edenton on July 29. The Shortest nine-inning game the Tobs played was on June 18 at Outer Banks in a game that lasted just 2:03. Wilson didn't play any double-headers as no games were rained out (except for an exhibition game against Kernersville scheduled for July 7). The Tobs played one rain-shortened six-inning game in Petersburg on July 8, which they won 4-0 in the only complete-game shutout thrown by a Tobs pitcher in 2011.

Wilson scored 14 runs in a game twice during the summer, and twice had 16 hits. There were seven multi-homerun games for the Tobs in 2011, including two three-homerun games. The team finished with 31 homers on the year, tied for sixth most in the CPL. Wilson finished the 2011 campaign 13th in hitting (.242 avg), 8th in pitching (4.44 ERA), and 1st in fielding (.968 FLD%).

Individually, Ryan Mathews (N.C. State) broke the teams single-season homerun record belting 15 balls out of the park, which was two homeruns shy of tying the CPL single-season homerun record. Mathews also broke the Tobs record for RBI in a season, as he finished with 41. Mathews finished second in the CPL in slugging percentage (.617), fourth in RBI, first in homers, and third in total bases (111). The 111 total bases is also a new Tobs single-season record.

Relief pitcher Jon Levin (St. Louis University) set a new team record for appearances in a season, as he made 28 trips to the mound. Starter Brice Rivenbark (Winston-Salem State) led the league in strikeouts (81) and batters struck out looking (26). Starter Clay Murphy (Missouri State) also struck out 26 batters looking, and Wilson finished first as a team in strikeouts (447) and batters struck out looking (141). Keith Morrisroe (Concord University) set a team record by reaching base in 38 straight games. Morrisroe also played all nine positions in the final game of the season against Columbia.

The Tobs sent three players to the 2011 CPL All-Star Game in Fayetteville. Mathews started in right field and batted third for the National team, while Tony Wieber (Michigan State) earned the save in the game for the National team. Ryan Daughtry (Barton College) was named to the American team, but could not participate in the game due to injury. Mathews also competed in the homerun derby in Fayetteville and finished third out of 16 participants.

In total 34,233 fans walked through the gates of Fleming Stadium to watch the Tobs in 2011. The average attendance of 1,223 per game was the 10thhighest in the league.

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