Wilmington's Tanner Roark called up to big leagues

Wilmington High School graduate Tanner Roark has been called up to the big leagues.

Roark, a right-handed relief pitcher, will be in uniform for the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night for the team's home game against the Atlanta Braves.

Roark, 26, had been pitching for the Nationals' Triple-A affiliate in Syracuse. This season, he's posted a 3.15 ERA and 9-3 record over 105 2/3 innings. He's started 11 games and appeared as a reliever in 22 others.

It remains to be seen whether he'll pitch in long relief or take a spot in the Nationals' rotation.

A 2005 graduate of Wilmington, Roark led the school's baseball team to state championships his sophomore and senior seasons, in 2003 and 2005 respectively. Wimington also finished third in 2004.

Roark went on to pitch at the University of Illinois and started his professional baseball career in the Texas Rangers' minor league system.