Following an extra inning win at Outer Banks the night before, the Peninsula Pilots were back in action Wednesday night at War Memorial Stadium. The Pilots welcomed the first place Edenton Steamers in a crucial showdown for post-season action.  Entering the game, the Pilots trailed the Steamers by 3 1/2 games in the Coastal Plain League North Division and would cut that lead by one game as starting pitcher Buck Farmer (Georgia Tech) would throw a complete game shutout to earn his third win, the Pilots ninth in the second half of the CPL season.

Making his fifth start, Farmer would go nine innings, allowing just three hits and keeping the Steamers off the scoreboard in a critical North Division game .  The scoreless game would be the Steamers third this year as the 6-4, 200 pound righty would strike out six in route to improving his record to 3-2 for the year.

In a game that lasted just a little over the two hour mark, Peninsula was eager to start its run at post-season going on the offensive early.  The Pilots would start strong, scoring three runs in the first off Joe DiRocco.  Chas Crane (Winthrop) would get the first RBI of the game with a single to center-field, scoring lead-off batter Ivan Hartle (Western Kentucky).  Mike Mergenthaler (Richmond) and Kevin McKague (Army) would also get an RBI each to cap the inning off.  Peninsula's two of its four hits would be in the first as Matt Rice (Western Kentucky) and Jimmy Rider (Kent State) would have the other two with a pair of singles.  The early scoring would eventually hand DiRocco the loss, dropping him to a 1-1 record for the year.

The win is Peninsula's third in a row, improving their record to 22-21 overall and 9-6 in the second half.  Peninsula plays the Outer Banks twice in the next two days, traveling to Outer Banks the next day then returning to War Memorial Stadium on Friday for a 7 p.m. showdown.  The Pilots then host the South Division Florence Redwolves Saturday night at 7:05.

The Peninsula Pilots are a member of the Coastal Plain League. The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 14th season, the Coastal Plain League features 15 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The CPL gives players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts.