By: Sammy Johnson

The Peninsula Pilots look to bounce back at home against the Morehead City Marlins tonight at 7 PM. The Marlins are 4-2 to this point and have won their last three. Tonight will also be a fireworks night, and as the city of Hampton knows, fireworks and Pilots baseball is the best duo since Bert and Ernie. Also, there’s a t-shirt giveaway, so why wouldn’t you come out to the ballpark tonight? 

Here’s how your Pilots take the field tonight.

1: SS Zac Morris (VMI)

2: 3B Mason Dunaway (JMU)

3: RF Ryan Dooley (JMU)

4: DH Chris Martinez (Univ. of Science and Arts)

5: LF Justin Starke (VMI)

6: 1B Ethan Ott (UNC-Pembroke)

7: 2B Aaron Manias (Howard)

8: C Cole Stanford (Lenoir-Rhyne)

9: CF Henry Garcia (Howard)

P: Trey Morgan (VMI)

Trey Morgan will get the start for the Pilots tonight. Morgan is a redshirt junior from VMI and is returning for his 3rd season with the Pilots. In his first two seasons, Morgan racked up an impressive 49 strikeouts in 55.1 innings pitched. 

Coach Morgan talked about the consistency that Trey brings.

“I expect him to compete,” Coach Morgan said. “I expect him to field his position well, hold runners well, attack the strike zone, and keep hitters off balance. Always feel good about having Trey on the mound.”

With a small sample size, Coach Morgan talked about improvements he wanted to see from his team.

“We need to be a little more under control with two strikes,” Coach Morgan said. “The biggest adjustment we can make is forcing them to handle the baseball to get us out.”

Coach Morgan also brought up the excitement that comes with a big crowd.

“One of the only disappointments of last game was we never gave them something to erupt over,” Coach Morgan said. “We’re excited to get them loud and rowdy tonight – it’s a fireworks night, so that should make for a fun atmosphere.”

The Pilots look for their first win tonight at 7.