Wilson, N.C. – The Wilson Tobs are proud to announce two defensive anchors that are coming to town for the 2022 season in Tim Haverstick and Weston Eberly. Catchers are usually the unsung leaders of every ball club, not afraid to get dirty and put their bodies on the line to protect their sacred ground, home plate. In a town with a long history of baseball, gritty ball players with tough armor is just what the doctor has ordered. 

Haverstick, a redshirt sophomore from Marlton, NJ, comes to the Tobs from East Stroudsburg University.  The Warriors catcher is hot off of an All-PSAC team selection in 2021 and has remained a smoking gun in 2022. The right-handed hitting Haverstick has 4 2B, 1 3B, and 4 HR in only 85 ABs thus far. His first season at ESU was cut short due to the pandemic, but he still managed to make an impact throwing out 4-9 would-be thieves in just 9 games. Though he is mainly known for his defensive prowess, Haverstick has made some major improvements with his bat. In 2021, he finished with a BA of .333 and an OPS of .860 while tallying 3 2B and 3 HR. Haverstick stuck to his formula behind the plate by putting together a solid defensive season as well as earning post season honors and pushing his development forward by playing in the summer Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League. So far this spring, Haverstick and his ESU Warriors have been on a terror with a record of 21-6 while Haverstick has thrown out 30% of runners who have tried to swipe a base from under his nose. The Tobs look forward to having this backstop as part of the battery this summer, as well as some of his fellow ESU pitchers that will be announced in the weeks to come. 

Eberly, a 6ft 200lb junior who is a blockade behind the plate from Maitland, FL, will make his way down interstate 95 this summer to join the Tobs from Columbia University. After the Ivy League canceled their 2021 season due to COVID-19, Eberly joined the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the North Woods League where he put together a strong summer campaign. The right-handed hitter caught 45 games and racked up 8 extra base hits during his time in America’s Dairyland. Eberly’s freshman year at Columbia in 2020 was also cut short due to the pandemic, but he was still able to put together a decent showing in only 6 games. The freshman backstop collected 4 H with 1 HR and 2 walks while throwing out 4-10 base stealers. Following his shortened 2020 freshman season, he split his time in the summer between the North Woods and Florida Collegiate Summer League. Thus far this spring, the junior catcher has thrown out 7-16 runners and has 1 2B, 3 3B and 2 HR in only 55 AB. The Tobs are eager to see Eberly put together a full collegiate season and continue that success in Wilson.

Third year skipper Harry Markotay’s catching staff of Haverstick, Eberly and the previously announced returning Wilson native Garret Browder, make an already capable defensive team even more dangerous. Markotay will be sure to look to them to be the glue that keeps the Tobs pitching staff composed throughout the 2022 season. 

Tobs Fans, don’t forget to mark your calendars for the Tobs 2022 Season Opener and Thirsty Thursday on May 26th. Stick around for Memorial Day weekend and the always exciting Tobs Firework Extravaganza Show on Sunday, May 29th! The Tobs Red, White, and Blue Firework Show will be Saturday, July 2nd. Season tickets and ticket packages are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (252) 291-8627, or by visiting www.wilsontobs.com.

The Wilson Tobs enter their 26th 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 Petitt 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 MLB draft and have produced over a dozen players who have gone on to play in the MLB, including Cy Young MVP winner Justin Verlander.