Sharks end season with playoff loss

EDENTON,NC (news release from Sharks) — The Wilmington Sharks run in the 2011 CPL Petitt Cup playoffs is complete after Edenton used a four-run eighth inning to give the Steamers a 7-1 win and advance the Steamers to the 2011 CPL Petitt Cup Championship series.

Sharks starter Mat Batts allowed a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first and a two-out homer in the bottom of the second inning before settling down. Batts allowed his third run of the night in the seventh as his final statline for 2011 finished at 6 2/3 innings of work with six strikeouts while allowing five hits and walking two.

Wilmington saw its only run of the night come in the top of the fourth when Daniel Aldrich connected on a solo homer, giving him six home runs in six CPL playoff games. With a 3-1 lead, Edenton gave itself breathing run in the bottom of the eighth when they scored four runs off of two hits and one Sharks error off of reliever Ross Whitley. Aldrich finished his night 2-for-4 with his homer and a single, while Kenny Bryant, Aaron Preston and Eric Mayers tallied a hit apiece for the Sharks.

After winning the first round series against Fayetteville, Wilmington finishes with a 32-30 final record for the 2011 CPL season.