by James Stanley, Wilson Tobs Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting
WILSON, N.C. – The Wilson Tobs (15-16, 5-6) recorded their third shutout of the season downing the Tri-City Chili Peppers (6-21, 2-11) 8-0 at Historic Fleming Stadium on Sunday night.
The game ran seven innings and was the front end of a doubleheader, but rain postponed the nightcap Game two will be made up Tuesday, July 27th at part of a doubleheader consisting of two 7-inning games. Game one starts at 6:00 p.m. ET with game two to follow 30 minutes after the completion of the first game. Gates open to the public at 5:30 next Tuesday.
Wilson’s starting pitcher Hunter Hayes (Pacific) and Tri-City’s starter Collin Lowe (Richmond) pitched dueling shutouts through the 3rd until the Tobs got on the board in the 4th. With two outs, Jacob McCaskey (California University of Pennsylvania) broke up a streak of 11-straight outs for Lowe with a base hit and scored on a Drew DeVine (Western Michigan) RBI double putting the Tobs up 1-0. Riley Jepson (UT-Tyler) finished the scoring by doubling in two to give Wilson a 3-0 lead by the end of the 4th.
The Tobs went back for second helpings in the 5th inning to plate three more runs that doubled their lead to 6-0. Gavin Bates (Iona) came in relief with no outs in the frame after Lowe allowed a leadoff single to Brainy Rojas (East Stroudsburg). Wilson extended its lead to 4-0 after Rojas scored on an error charged to Tri-City’s Hayden Harris (Longwood) at shortstop. McCaskey gave the Tobs a five-run advantage on his second hit of the evening when he batted in Dusty Baker (Mount Olive) on an RBI single. DeVine drove in the final run of the frame giving Wilson the edge, 6-0, on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Chili Peppers reliever Connor Handy (New Orleans) pitched the 6th inning and allowed one run on an RBI single to Rojas that scored the final Tobs run of the night putting Wilson ahead 7-0.
Justin Guidos (East Stroudsburg) closed out the night on the mound for the Tobs by securing the 7-0 win on two strikeouts in the 7th. His relief outing was completed on 2.0 scoreless innings pitched.
The win went to Hayes on his 5.0 shutout innings pitched on five strikeouts. He allowed just three hits and stranded one base runner as the Chili Peppers ended the 2nd inning on a double play and ran themselves out of the 5th when Braedon Blackford (Purdue-Ft. Wayne) executed a hidden ball trick to record Carson Jones (Virginia Tech) out at first base for the final out of the frame.
Lowe took the loss by giving up four runs on four hits in 4.0 innings pitched.
Bates and Handy both recorded 1.0 inning in relief allowing a combined three runs on three hits and three walks.
After two off-days, the Tobs hit the road to take on the High Point-Thomasville Hi-Toms in a cross-division showdown on Wednesday, July 21 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Fans can listen to the game for free on on Mixlr by clicking here or watch on FloBaseball.TV.
The Tobs return home on Thursday, July 22 to take on the Holly Springs Salamanders at 7:10 p.m. ET on Paint the Park Pink Night presented by Wilson Medical Center, Bridgestone and First Media Radio. Fans can bid on the Tobs pink game-used jerseys via the LiveSource App with proceeds benefitting the Wilson Community Health Center and the Pink Ladies of Wilson. Gates open at 5, so come early to watch the Doctors vs Lawyers Charity Softball Game at 5:30. Join the Tobs for Thirsty Thursday with $1 select draft beer as well as beer and drink specials. Stick around in the beer garden for postgame music performed by Matty Begs as this week’s Carolina Eagle Budweiser Band. Fans can stream the game on FloBaseball.TV or watch locally for free on Greenlight Channels 2 and 900-HD.
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.