WILSON, N.C. – The Wilson Tobs finished the 2021 season with an overall record of 31-19 with a 23-19 record in the Coastal Plain League. The Tobs finished the second half of CPL play in 3rd place at a record of 13-9 under the direction of second year Head Coach Harry Markotay and Pitching Coach Aaron Mayer.

Off the field, the 2021 Tobs found ways to assist the Wilson community for an all-around great year after a 2020 season rattled by Covid-19.

During the 2021 Bark in the Park, the Maggie Society had one of its best single-game donations from generous Tobs fans who also gave homes to all dogs who needed to be adopted.

The Wilson Tobs would not be able to function without its supporting host families and 2021 marked the season with the most host families ever for the Tobs.

During the Home Run for Hunger Game, the Tobs were able to collect 20,000 pounds for 13 different Wilson pantries from generous families around the town and county.

On July 3, 2021, the Wilson Tobs sold out Historic Fleming Stadium for the first time in 10 years.

On Military & Local Heroes Appreciation Night, the Tobs held an enlistment ceremony and were able to give a $1,000 scholarship check to a high school student.

Over $3,500 were raised during the Paint the Park Pink Night Jersey Auction with proceeds benefitting the Wilson Community Health Center and Pink Ladies of Wilson to help pay for life saving mammograms for women in Wilson County.

More than 200 kids participated in Tobs Youth Camps this summer and were taught important baseball skills by some of the most generous players the Tobs have ever seen. In 2021, Wilson Tobs players signed more items for its young fans than had ever been seen before.

In 2021, the Wilson Tobs awarded the following awards: Dusty Baker (Mount Olive) – Heart and Soul, Dylan Scaranda (Barton College) – Silver Slugger, Justin Guidos (East Stroudsburg) – Golden Arm and Drew DeVine (Western Michigan) – Most Valuable Player.

The Tobs finished 2021 exhibition play with a perfect record of 8-0.

DeVine finished with the highest batting average on the team at .368 giving him the highest average in the CPL East and tied for the second highest batting average in the entire league. Riley Jepson (UT-Tyler) hit .356 for the season and finished second in the CPL East with Scaranda batting .340 to finish the year at fourth best in the East division.

With 9 homeruns, Scaranda led the Tobs in dingers with a fourth best clip in the Tobs division and finished seventh overall in the Coastal Plain League.

As a team, the 2021 Tobs finished tied for third with the Florence Flamingos in the entire CPL in doubles hit with 67 behind the Lexington Blowfish and Forest City Owls who ended the year tied for first with 71 doubles as a team.

In 2021, Wilson pitching gave up the fewest number of hits in the Coastal Plain League giving up 286 as a staff, 16 better than the next closet team, the CPL West Division First and Second Half Champions Savanah Bananas. The Tobs as a staff also posted the second lowest batting average against in the entire league with opponents batting .277 on the summer. Behind the Bananas, the Tobs had the second lowest ERA in all of the CPL at 4.05.

Six former Tobs were taken in the 2021 MLB Draft: Trey Sweeney (New York Yankees – Round 1 | Pick 20), Jack Schrand (Miami Marlins – Round 9 | Pick 269), Austin Vernon (Tampa Bay Rays – Round 10 | Pick 311), Mitch Myers (Oakland Athletics Round 12 | Pick 368), Chris Meyers (Detroit Tigers Round 13 | Pick 375) and Jared Carr (Philadelphia Phillies Round 13 | Pick 385).

Fans can watch highlights from the 2021 season here.

The Tobs would like to thank our fans, host families, corporate partners, players, coaches, staff and community for their support during the 2021 season.

The Wilson Tobs enter their 25th season as a founding member of the Coastal Plain League. The upcoming season for the Tobs will see community outreach, increased participation in helping the less fortunate, a Pettit Cup Championship team, and more exciting entertainment than ever before. We would like to dedicate each successful season to the Wilson Community, Coastal Plain League Organization, Host Families, Corporate Partners, and the Dedicated Fans.

The Wilson Tobs have played host to over 100 alumni taken in the draft and have produced a dozen players who have gone on to play in the MLB, including Cy Young MVP winner Justin Verlander. For more information on the Wilson Tobs, visit our website www.WilsonTobs.com.