Trio share book, experiences with students at Berkeley Glenn

Story by Jenny Hypes
jenny.hypes@emu.edu
 

Never give up when things get rough. That was the moral of the story in the book Wilma Unlimited, read by three members of the Waynesboro Generals baseball team to a group of fourth- and fifth-grade students at Berkeley Glenn Elementary School.

The players, who are being hosted by the Brian and Diane Lundstrom family, came in bright and early Thursday morning to read and talk to the students. The story that they shared was about Wilma Rudolph, who was a three-time gold medalist in track, born prematurely and stricken with polio at a young age.

Coming in and reading to the children is not something the guys had to do, Mark Lamm, a junior at Vanderbilt, said.

“It’s a good cause. This was a good story, and it gives these kids a chance to hear it from someone else other than their teacher. We thought it would be good to do something to give back,” Lamm said.

After the book was read, the students had a short discussion about the meaning of the book. When giving other examples about rough times and not giving up, Diane Lundstrom, a teacher at BGES, turned to the Generals and said, “I’m sure these boys have had a hard game every now and then.”

Michael Reed, a sophomore at LSU, replied, “Story of my life!”

Following that discussion, the children were given an opportunity to ask the Generals questions about baseball, the main one being, “How fast do you pitch? Lamm answered, “We all pitch right around 90 mph, which is faster than most people drive.”

A look of astonishment came across the children’s faces as they tried to think of something else to ask.

To show their appreciation for the players coming in and talking to them, each of the children made a card, complete with a picture of a flaming baseball, for the Generals. In return the men gave a little more of their time to answer some more questions about baseball and sign the hats, bats and baseballs the kids had brought in. They also awarded all nine children with passes to get into any General game for free.

Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
 

Waynesboro rallied late to cut an early eight-run Winchester lead to two, but that was as close as the Generals would get in a 15-12 road loss Thursday night.

Starting pitcher Michael Reed (0-3) was touched up for eight runs, all earned, in the first, but Waynesboro was able to get the margin down to 13-11 in the seventh when Grant Fillipitch homered to left field.

A two-run Cody Gaskill homer in the eighth off Generals closer Andrew Blackwell made it 15-11 Winchester. Drew Turocy singled home Jon Clinard from second with two outs in the ninth to make it 15-12, but Cody Hudson struck out swinging to end it.

Fillipitch, Turocy and Zephan Guyear all had three hits for Waynesboro, and T.J. Kuban had a three-run double in the sixth that was a big part of the rally that got Waynesboro back into the game.

Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
 

A Grant Fillipitch two-RBI single gave Waynesboro a seventh-inning lead, and a four-run ninth highlighted by an Alan Stoupa two-run single gave the Generals a 10-4 win at New Market Thursday night.

Starting pitcher Michael Reed put in a strong effort for Waynesboro, pitching into the sixth and giving up three runs on six hits, but he left with his team down 3-2 after the Rebels put up a twospot in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead.

The Generals rallied with four in the seventh, with Jon Clinard tying the game with an RBI single and Fillipitch following one batter later with his two-run hit.

It was 6-4 entering the ninth when Waynesboro put up another four on the scoreboard off Anthony Constanatos.

The comeback made a winner of Greg Smith (1-0), who pitched an inning and two-thirds of hitless, scoreless relief.

Stoupa had three hits and three RBI for Waynesboro.

Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net
 

Harrisonburg rallied from a 5-0 fifth-inning deficit to steal a win at Waynesboro, 7-5, Sunday night at Mathers Park.

The Generals seemed to be in control when Colin Harrington scored on a Grant Fillipitch groundout in the bottom of the fifth to extend the Waynesboro lead to 5-0. Starting pitcher Daniel Bradshaw gave up three runs in the sixth, though, and Harrisonburg had its way with the Waynesboro bullpen, scoring a run in the seventh off Dylan Ray, two in the eighth off Michael Reed (0-1) to take the lead at 6-5 and then adding an insurance run in the ninth off Wade Bilbrey.

Zach Brewster (2-0), meanwhile, held the Generals offense in check in four shutdown innings out of the Turks pen, limiting Waynesboro to three hits while striking out four.

Catcher Matt Malloy paced the Waynesboro offense with three hits.

 
Story by Chris Graham
freepress2@ntelos.net

The Waynesboro Generals announced today the signings of LSU pitcher Michael Reed and LSU third baseman Wet Delatte for the 2010 season.

Reed, a 6-2, 195-pound sophomore righthander, has a 7.84 ERA in four appearances, including one start, this year for the Tigers.

Delatte, a 6-foot, 205-pound redshirt freshman, is hitting .220 with a .304 on-base percentage and a .244 slugging percentage in 13 games, including 12 starts, for LSU.