Tomsox Defeat Generals 8-4
By: Joshua Gingrich
After the Waynesboro Generals hopped out to an early lead, the Charlottesville TomSox used a series of rallies in the late innings to win 8-4. The TomSox improve to 9-5, while Waynesboro drops to 9-7.
The game started well for the Generals. Waynesboro scratched across two runs in the second on a fielder’s choice by shortstop Jalen Vasquez and a throwing error by Charlottesville pitcher Luke Wagner. In addition, Generals starting pitcher Jonathan Blackwell was dealing, retiring 15 of the first 16 batters he faced and not allowing a runner past second.
Then everything changed.
The TomSox sent 10 batters to the plate in the sixth inning, four of them scoring off Blackwell and reliever Zach Locke. They didn’t stop there, scoring two in the seventh and two in the eighth to break away from the Generals.
Waynesboro also struggled to take advantage of opportunities. They left 10 men on base, including two in the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth. The Generals also struck out 15 times, multiple times with runners on base.
Blackwell went 5.1 innings, giving up four runs and was handed the loss. Charlottesville pitcher Drew Bryan got four scoreless outs to get the win.
Charlottesville got a big offensive performance from designated hitter Satchell Norman, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Center fielder Trey Yunger went 3-for-4 with three runs scored for the TomSox.
Second baseman Edrick Felix, who entered for the Generals in the fourth after starter Tyler Borges left due to injury, hit a solo home run in the seventh.
Both teams play Wednesday night at 7 p.m. Charlottesville stays on the road, going to Staunton, while Waynesboro heads to Covington.
Caras gives Generals 7-6 walk-off win over Lumberjacks
By Joshua Gingrich
Waynesboro Generals’ first baseman Kasey Caras strode to the plate with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the tenth against the Covington Lumberjacks last night. With the game tied at six, all he had to do was get it past the drawn-in infielders and it would give the Generals the win.
Caras delivered, lining a 3-2 pitch into left field for a single, handing the Generals the 7-6 victory.
The Lumberjacks hopped out to an early lead, scoring two in the top of the first. Waynesboro then scored five unanswered — one in the first, one in the second, and three in the fifth. Covington cut the lead to two in the top of the seventh, but the Generals got the run back in the bottom of the eighth.
In the top of the ninth, Waynesboro pitcher Peyton Ricko walked the leadoff man and then gave up a single, bringing the potential tying run to the plate in Covington center fielder Joshua Rodriguez. Rodriguez hit a three-run homer, tying the game at six apiece.
Before this season, the Valley Baseball League adapted the MLB rule of a runner on second base leading off each extra inning. Waynesboro Generals pitcher Orlando Hernandez, who finished the top of the ninth, was called on to attempt to strand Covington’s runner. Hernandez, the son of the former MLB pitcher of the same name, struck out the first two batters and induced a groundout to keep the game tied.
In the bottom of the ninth, a pair of walks loaded the bases before Karas stepped to the plate and won the game. Hernandez was awarded the win for his two innings of scoreless pitching.
Waynesboro second baseman Tyler Borges went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI. For the Lumberjacks, left fielder Will Hudler went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
The win was Waynesboro’s second home win of the season, and both have come on walk-offs. On June 5 against the Harrisonburg Turks, catcher Garrett Bogart hit a walk-off grand slam to give the Generals a 10-9 victory.
The Lumberjacks (3-6) play at the Staunton Braves (4-8) tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Generals (6-5) are off today and stay at home to battle the Braves tomorrow night at 7 p.m.
Tomsox Score Late to Defeat Waynesboro
By Joshua Gingrich
Waynesboro, Va.- The Waynesboro Generals opened a five-game homestand Wednesday night with a matchup with the Charlottesville TomSox. The Generals were leading 7-6 entering the eighth inning, but the TomSox scored once in the eighth and three times in the ninth to win 10-7.
Charlottesville hopped out to an early lead, scoring three times in the top of the second without recording a hit, and that set the tone for the rest of the game. There were 11 hit batters and 12 walks — six by each team — in the game.
Waynesboro scored twice in the bottom of the third and fourth to take the lead, only to give it up in the fifth. The Generals scored twice in the sixth to retake the lead before Charlottesville took the lead for good in the ninth.
Waynesboro had several missed opportunities. The Generals had scoring opportunities and failed to produce big innings multiple times, leaving 12 men on base. The Generals struggled defensively, too. They committed three errors and failed to catch some fly balls that could’ve prevented some Charlottesville runs.
Charlottesville pitcher Tyler McLoughlin pitched a scoreless eighth inning and picked up the win, and pitcher Jack Billings got the save. Waynesboro pitcher Carson Hobbs gave up three runs in his 1.1 innings of work and was given the loss.
Catcher Tanner Garrison had a big day for the Generals, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. TomSox shortstop Kyle Edwards went 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Both teams play tonight at their respective home parks at 7 p.m. The TomSox (4-5) play the Staunton Braves (4-7), while Waynesboro (5-5) battles the Covington Lumberjacks (3-5).
Waynesboro Loses Close Game to Staunton
By: Joshua Gingrich
Waynesboro, Va. — For the second time this season, the Waynesboro Generals and Staunton Braves squared off at Kate Collins Field. And for the second time this season, the Braves defeated the Generals in Waynesboro, holding off a late Waynesboro rally to win 7-6 last night.
There was a lot of offense early from both sides. After three innings, the Generals were up 6-5. After Staunton scored twice in the top of the second, Waynesboro scored five times in the bottom half of the frame — three batters were hit and there were two walks and two hits during the rally.
However, the Braves scored three in the top of the third to even the game up. The Generals retook the lead in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by outfielder Thad Ector.
From there, however, the game became a pitcher’s duel. The Braves scored a run in the fifth and an unearned run in the sixth to take the lead, but no other runs could be scratched across. The Generals loaded the bases with two out in the ninth, but infielder Tyler Borges struck out swinging to end the game.
Outfielders Joe Delossantos and Michael Robertson each had two hits for Staunton. Robertson also drove in a pair of runs. Pitcher Brooks Helton went 3.2 scoreless innings for the Braves, picking up the win, while pitcher Marty Neal got the save with his game-ending strikeout of Borges.
Outfielder Joseph Sullivan III went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Generals, and first baseman Braden Luke had a two-run single in the five-run second. Pitcher J.D. Price pitched well for the Generals, going four innings and getting tagged with the unearned run, but he was handed the loss.
Waynesboro (2-2) heads to Charlottesville to play the Tom Sox today at 7 p.m. The Braves (2-3) are off Friday before returning home to battle the Covington Lumberjacks on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Walk-off Grand Slam Propels Waynesboro to Win over Harrisonburg
By: Joshua Gingrich
With two out and bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, the Waynesboro Generals were down 9-6 to the Harrisonburg Turks. Catcher Garrett Bogart strode to the plate. He turned on a pitch and launched it well over the left-field fence, sending the crowd and the Generals into a frenzy and giving the Generals a 10-9 win.
Waynesboro started off quickly, scoring three in the first, all with two outs. Outfielder Kasey Caras hit an RBI double and outfielder Thad Ector had a bases-loaded walk. The Generals added a fourth run on a sacrifice fly by first baseman Braden Luke in the second.
In the top of the third, Harrisonburg cut the deficit to one thanks to a three-run homer by outfielder Jaylon Lee. The Generals would add a run in the fifth to make it a two-run game.
The Turks would answer with two in the top of the seventh to tie the game. In the eighth, seven of the first eight Turks reached base, and four of them came across to score and make it 9-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, the first four Generals reached base, making it 9-6. After a flyout, strikeout and a walk, Bogart crushed the ball over the fence for the walk-off win.
It was Bogart’s second ninth-inning, go-ahead homer in two nights. Last night, he hit a home run to give the Generals the late victory over the Staunton Braves.
Pitcher Henry Hardie pitched a scoreless ninth for the Generals and was awarded the victory.
Waynesboro improves to 2-1, while Harrisonburg drops to 1-1. The Generals play Tuesday on the road at the Covington Lumberjacks, with first pitch set for 7 p.m.
Generals Open Season with 7-1 Loss to Staunton
By Joshua Gingrich
It was not an ideal start to the 2022 season for the Waynesboro Generals, falling 7-1 to the Staunton Braves. Waynesboro drops to 0-1, while the Braves are 1-0.
It was an inauspicious start to the game for the Generals, as a throwing error by third baseman Matt Ruiz scored an unearned run for the Braves. Staunton would add three in the fifth on a three-run homer by center fielder Joe Delossantos off Waynesboro starter Nick Chittum. The Braves would send eight men to the plate in the sixth inning, scoring three more to blow the game open.
Meanwhile, the Generals couldn’t muster anything offensively. They drew six walks against Stanton pitchers Ryan Yerby and Adam Fischer, but couldn’t scratch across any runs. Waynesboro didn’t get its first hit until shortstop Jalen Vasquez hit an infield single with two out in the seventh. Vasquez also hit an RBI single with two out in the ninth.
Staunton third baseman Jeff Snider had two hits and scored three runs. In addition to his homer, Delossantos had two singles.
Yerby picked up the win. He went five innings, walked six and struck out seven. Fischer got the save. He pitched the last four innings, giving up four hits, one run, and striking out six.
Waynesboro starting pitcher Chittum was handed the loss. He went four-plus innings, giving up three hits, two walks, two hit by pitches and Delossantos’ home run.
The Generals and Braves play tomorrow in Staunton. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Two DBU Pitchers Are Heading to Waynesboro
Two Dallas Baptist pitchers are headed to Waynesboro for 2022. Elijah Pleasants and Bubba Hall will make the trip to the valley.
This season, two right-handed arms will be joining the Generals from Dallas Baptist University. Bubba Hall and Elijah Pleasants will make the trip to Waynesboro for the summer.
Hall is coming off of his first season in Dallas after transferring from Southern Illinois University. During his 2022 season for DBU, Hall has tallied a 3-2 record in 24 appearances all out of the bullpen. Hitters have not faired well against the Hurley, Mississippi native as they are hitting .184 against him.
Much like Hall, Pleasants is coming off of his first season or DBU after transferring from Tennessee. The Clarksville, Tennessee native has seen action in seven contests including one start. Pleasants has received some MLB attention during and prior to his collegiate career as he was a 36th round selection by the Kansas City Royals in 2018 and also played in the MLB Draft League last summer.
Dallas Baptist currently sits with a 33-20-1 record and is set to begin play in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament this weekend. The Patriots were MVC Champions in 2021 for the fourth time in program history.
The Generals season gets underway on June 3 as the Staunton Braves visit. Start time is set for 7 p.m.
Three Patriots Are Joining the Generals
Three Patriots will be joining the Generals for 2022 from the College of Central Florida. INF Caleb Cali, INF Edrick Felix and OF Victor Castillo are heading to Waynesboro.
Three Patriots will be joining the Generals for the 2022 campaign. INF Caleb Cali, INF Edrick Felix and OF Victor Castillo will make the trip from the College of Central Florida to Waynesboro.
Cali will join the Generals coming off of his freshman year for the Patriots. The Montverde, Florida native has seen action in 58 games and has tallied a team-best .440 batting average. Cali also ranks second on the team in RBI (75) and home runs (16). Cali was recently named to the All-Tournament Team for his efforts in their conference tournament.
Felix also joins the Gens after a successful 2022 campaign for the Patriots. The Orlando, Florida native ranks just ahead of Cali in home runs (17) and RBI (77) as he leads the Patriots in both departments up to this point in the season. Felix received the Bob Zelenski Award as he was named the conference tournament’s most outstanding player as he went 7 for 15 at the plate during the event. Felix will be transferring to Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall.
Castillo comes to Waynesboro after his second season with the Patriots. Hailing from Tallahassee, Florida, he has stolen five bases in six attempts this spring and tallied a .372 batting average in 50 games. Castillo will be transferring to nearby Liberty University in the fall.
These three will join the two members of the Patriots coaching staff who are also making the trip to Waynesboro for 2022. Zac Cole will serve as the Head Coach once again for 2022 and Jason Rose will join the staff as well.
The Patriots are in the middle of one of their best seasons to date recently winning the FCSAA Championship and earning a bid to the NJCAA World Series in Grand Junction, Colorado which will begin May 28.
The Generals season will begin on June 3 as the Staunton Braves visit in a cross-county clash. Action is set to start at 7 p.m.
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