Generals Fall in Game 2 as Express Take Home Valley League Title
The Strasburg Express are the 2016 Valley League Champions after defeating the Waynesboro Generals 5-4 in Game 2 of the Championship Series in Waynesboro Friday evening.
The Express take home the Jim Lineweaver Cup for the second consecutive season as they handed the Generals just their third home loss all season.
Strasburg used a big seventh inning where they scored five runs to take a one run lead that would hold until the end of the game. An RBI single by Jake Tisevich followed by a pair of RBI doubles by Tyler Green and Erick Delgado did the damage, allowing the Express to take the 5-4 lead and hold on for the victory.
The two teams traded zeroes early, but the Generals were able to break through in the fourth inning with three runs. After a single by Zach Sterry, Kyle Jackson drove in the first run with an RBI double to the left-center field gap. Andrew Bullock followed with an RBI double of his own to score Jackson, and T.J. Condon drove in Bullock with a single to make it 3-0 Waynesboro.
The Generals were able to put one more run on the board in the sixth when Condon scored Bullock again with an RBI double as the home team took a 4-0 lead before Strasburg’s big seventh inning.
Tyler Howe began the game on the mound for the Generals going six shutout innings before surrendering the five runs in the seventh. He would finish as the losing pitcher while walking two and striking out three. Tanner Kirby pitched three innings of relief, allowing only three hits with one walk.
Benjamin Dum was the winning pitcher for Strasburg with Abraham Almonte earning the save.
Generals Drop Game 1 of Championship Series 7-6 at Strasburg
The Waynesboro Generals fell just short in Game 1 of the Valley League Championship Series, losing to the Strasburg Express 7-6 Thursday night.
Strasburg came out of the gate quick with a big three run home run by Brandon Quaranta to give them an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Waynesboro came ready with a response, though, as they put up four runs in the second to take their first lead. Brent Sakurai delivered a two-RBI triple to right field to score the first two and put Waynesboro on the scoreboard. Sam Palensky would follow with a two run single as the Generals took a 4-3 lead.
The Express would come back with three more runs scored in the bottom of the third inning to retake the lead, however. Strasburg used a pair of doubles and singles to take a 6-4 lead in an impressive two-out rally in the inning. They would tack on one more in the fifth when Carter Pharis took home on a wild pitch and lead 7-4.
The Generals were not done yet as Zach Sterry brought them to within one with a two-run home run, his third of the postseason, but Waynesboro was unable to complete the comeback, losing 7-6.
Brett Sasse started on the mound for Waynesboro, only going three and a third innings after allowing six runs on seven hits while striking out two batters. Dylan Burns came on in relief for three and two-thirds innings while giving up one run on two hits. He struck out three and walked one. Darren Kelly pitched the ninth and surrendered just one hit.
Waynesboro now faces elimination for the first time this postseason, as they must win the next two games to win the Jim Lineweaver Cup.
UP NEXT: Game 2 of the best-of-3 Championship series will take place in Waynesboro on Friday evening beginning at 7:00 pm
Generals Advance to VBL Finals with 2-0 Win Over Covington
The Waynesboro Generals have advanced to the Valley League Championship after a 2-0 road victory over the Covington Lumberjacks. With the win, the Generals sweep the Lumberjacks in the South Division Championship series two games to zero.
Vince Braman pitched a complete game shutout, the second by a Generals’ pitcher this postseason, on his way to earning his sixth win in as many starts this summer.
The offense for the Generals was held mostly in check as the team was only able to muster two runs in the top of the seventh inning. After a single by Andrew Bullock and a double by Kyle Jackson, a wild pitch allowed Bullock to score the game’s first run. T.J. Condon followed with an RBI single, Waynesboro’s lone RBI on the night, to score Jackson and make it 2-0 Waynesboro. The slim two run lead would hold for the road team as they would escape with the game and series victory.
Braman held the Covington offense completely in check throughout the evening, allowing only five hits in the game. He also finished with just one walk and six performances in his dominating performance.
UP NEXT: The Generals await the winner of the North Division Championship series between Front Royal and Strasburg. Game 1 will take place the day after their series concludes.
Six Generals Named to All-Valley League Team, Sterry Named VBL MVP
Six Generals were named to the All-Valley League team, including Zach Sterry who was named Valley League MVP.
Six Waynesboro Generals have been honored as members of the All-Valley League Team that was announced Monday. Zach Sterry (1st Team), T.J. Condon (1st), Tanner Poole (1st), Vince Braman (2nd), Campbell Scholl (2nd), and Zach Neff (2nd) were the six players that represented Waynesboro on the team.
Sterry was also named the league MVP after the first baseman finished the year fourth in batting with a .350 average and leading the league in home runs (13), doubles (14), RBIs (41), and slugging percentage (.734).
Catcher T.J. Condon finished the year with a .307 batting average, 3 home runs, and 15 RBIs. He also committed only three errors behind the plate all season. Center Fielder Tanner Poole was second on the team with a .333 batting average and six home runs, while leading the team in runs scored (49), hits (52), triples (5), and stolen bases (21).
Starting pitcher Vince Braman was 5-0 in five starts during the summer and had a 3.37 ERA. Campbell Scholl, also a starting pitcher, was 2-0 in six starts and was tied for the league lead with a 1.04 ERA. Reliever Zach Neff was 4-1 in his eight appearances out of the bullpen with one save while also striking out 18 batters.
Waynesboro led all teams with six selections to the All-Valley League team, followed by the Strasburg Express with five.
Generals Beat Covington 9-1, Take 1-0 Series Lead
Kyle Jackson crushed two home runs and had four RBIs in the Game 1 victory.
The Waynesboro Generals topped the Covington Lumberjacks 9-1 in Game 1 of the VBL Semifinals Sunday evening to take a 1-0 series lead.
Waynesboro broke through early with four runs in the first inning as they took a 4-0 lead. Andrew Bullock started the scoring with a bases loaded sacrifice fly to score the first run of the game. Kyle Jackson then crushed a three-run home run to left field as the Generals took a four run lead. The home team was able to add one more in the second inning with Tanner Poole’s RBI single to take a 5-0 lead.
The scoring did not stop in the first two innings for the Generals, though, as they were able to push three more across in the third. T.J. Condon blasted a solo home run, scoring the first run, and Sam Palensky brought the next two home with a two-RBI double to make it 8-0 Waynesboro. Jackson added another home run in the fourth, this one a solo shot, giving the Generals a nine run lead.
The Lumberjacks were able to score one run in the top of the ninth, but that was all as the Generals would take Game 1 of the series 9-1.
Campbell Scholl got the ball to start the game and went five scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Tyler Elwer came on in relief for two innings, walked one batter, and struck out one as well. Tanner Kirby pitched the final two innings, giving up just the one run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Coach Williams’ Player of the Game: RF Kyle Jackson (2-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI)
UP NEXT: Game 2 of the Semifinals will be in Covington on Monday evening, beginning at 7:00 pm.
Generals Take Game 1 of Quarterfinals 6-0
Winning Pitcher Tyler Howe threw a complete game shutout with nine strikeouts in the victory over Staunton.
The Waynesboro Generals (31-12) took a 1-0 series lead with a 6-0 shutout of the Staunton Braves (15-28) at Kate Collins Field Thursday evening.
Tyler Howe dominated on the mound, throwing a complete game shutout while allowing only two hits to the Staunton offense. He struck out nine batters while only walking three in the Generals’ fourth home shutout of the Braves.
“I just filled up the zone and tried to throw every pitch with purpose,” Howe said post game. He finished with 119 pitches thrown with 70 strikes. “Tyler did a great job of making them earn everything,” Coach Matt Williams said of his pitcher.
The Generals got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning when Zach Sterry drove in a run with an RBI single. Then, in the second inning after a double, T.J. Condon would come in to score on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 Waynesboro.
Waynesboro would break things open in the bottom of the eighth inning with four runs to extend their lead to six runs. Eli Putnam got the scoring started with an RBI single to score Kyle Jackson. Brent Sakurai then scored added two more runs to the lead with a triple to score Condon and Putnam, making it a 5-0 lead. Tanner Poole would follow with a sacrifice fly to score the final run of the game, sealing the Generals victory at 6-0.
Coach Williams’ Player of the Game: P Tyler Howe (CG, 0 R, 2 H, 3 BB, 9 SO).
UP NEXT: The Generals will face the Braves again in Game 2 of the Quarterfinals in Staunton Friday night beginning at 7:30 pm.
Generals Cap Regular Season with 8-0 Shutout of Staunton
Starting pitcher Adam Tarver threw two perfect innings in his start Tuesday against Staunton.
The Waynesboro Generals (30-12) finished off the regular season with a 8-0 shutout of the Staunton Braves (15-27) in their final home game Tuesday evening.
Seven Waynesboro pitchers combined to throw the shutout while allowing just two hits all game. The offense also came to play as the team scored the eight runs on fourteen hits.
The Generals broke through on the scoreboard in the third inning when Tanner Poole blasted his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot, to make it 2-0 Waynesboro.
The home team would add three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as the stretched the lead to five runs. Brent Sakurai dropped a bunt with a runner on third to score the first run, and Poole came through again with a two-RBI triple to add two more.
In the fifth, Tracy Hadley came home to score on a wild pitch followed by a bloop single by Kyle Jackson to score two more runs and give the Generals a 7-0 lead. Waynesboro would add one more as Sam Palensky came in to score after a throwing error by the right fielder on a Zach Sterry single, making the final score 8-0.
Adam Tarver was the starting pitcher for Waynesboro, pitching perfect first and second innings with one strikeout. Tyler Elwer came in for the third and allowed just one hit with one strikeout as well. Newcomer Jonathan Murphy pitched perfect fourth and fifth innings and struck out one while also earning the win. Tyler Davis followed him in the sixth with two strikeouts and one walk. Darren Kelly, Brett Sasse, and Conner Loeprich finished the game in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings, respectively. Kelly and Sasse both struck out two in their scoreless innings of work while Loeprich allowed one hit with one strikeout.
With the win, the Waynesboro Generals finish the year with the best winning percentage in history at .714. The Generals also ended with a 19-2 home record.
Coach Williams’ Players of the Game: Starting Pitcher Adam Tarver (2.0 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 SO), and Catcher T.J. Condon (2-2, 2 1B).
UP NEXT: The Generals have a day off before beginning the first round of the Playoffs. Game 1 of their series against the Staunton Braves will be Thursday at home starting at 7:00 pm.
Waynesboro Tops Covington 11-3, Clinches South Division Title
Zach Sterry went 2-4 with an RBI in the Generals’ 11-3 victory.
The Waynesboro Generals (29-12) defeated the Covington Lumberjacks (22-19) 11-3 Monday evening at home, and with the win, clinched the South Division title for the 2016 season.
Covington committed eight errors on the evening which led to nine unearned runs for Waynesboro.
The Generals scored two in the top of the first inning to take the early lead in the game. The runs came in to score on a fielder’s choice groundout and a throwing error by the shortstop to make it 2-0 Waynesboro. Bruce Martin would tie the game for Covington in the second with a two-run home run to left field.
Errors continued to plague Covington as three more gave way for the Generals to score five runs in the bottom of the second. Eli Putnam scored the first after a poor throw over by the pitcher to first got away. Two more runs came into score on the third throwing error by the Covington shortstop Bruce Valentin on a Sam Palensky grounder, making it 5-2. Zach Sterry and Tracy Hadley then delivered back to back RBI singles to stretch the Waynesboro lead to five runs.
Hadley and Trey Stine would each add a run in the fourth inning with RBI sacrifice flies to put the Waynesboro lead at 9-2. Two more runs came across in the bottom of the sixth to score the Generals’ tenth and eleventh runs. Another error by Covington on a ground ball allowed Sam Palensky to score and extend the lead to eight runs. A bases loaded walk would score the other run of the inning, making it 11-2 Waynesboro. Covington would add one more in the eighth to set the final score at 11-3.
Vince Braman started for Waynesboro and tossed seven innings while only allowing the two runs. He struck out two and walked one batter. Tanner Kirby pitched the eighth and allowed one run while Ivanniel Vazquez pitched a scoreless ninth.
UP NEXT: The Generals will take on the Staunton Braves at home Tuesday, July 26 in the final regular season home game at 7:00 pm.
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