Generals Fall to Royals, Snaps Five Game Win Streak

The Winchester Royals came to Waynesboro after being no-hit the night before in Strasburg. They made up for lost time with 11 hits that led to nine runs, including eight runs in the first two innings, to snap Waynesboro’s five game win streak.

A walk and a single got things started in the first inning. After a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, Drenis Ozuna hit a ground ball to the right side that drove in a run and moved the runner at second to third. The next batter struck out for out number two. When a ground ball was hit to third, it looked like the Generals were going to be able to minimize the damage, but an error by the third baseman allowed another run to come in. Then in an 0-2 count to the next batter, John Dyer hammered a no-doubter to left to get the Winchester Royals off and running with four runs in the first.

The second inning didn’t turn out any better for the Gens. The Royals put up four more runs in the frame and the Gens trailed 8-0 while some fans were still finding their seats. A double down the right field line got the rally started in the second. After a groundout to the right side, a single by John Servello drove in the first run. When a ground ball was hit to third, it looked like the Gens had a double play ball to end the inning. However, the back end of the double play wasn’t able to be completed on a low throw that skipped into the dugout and allowed the runner to go to second. On the very next pitch, Jimmy Goldsmith ripped a single up the middle that allowed Ozuna to score. Two pitches later, Aaron Palensky launched another home run to left to put up the final two runs of the inning. It was 8-0 before the Generals knew what hit them.

The Gens responded in the third with a couple of runs to try and get themselves back into the game. A leadoff single by Kobe Lopez (Florida International) put a runner at first for the red-hot hitting Connor Norby (East Carolina). Norby put one off the scoreboard in left center for his third home run in four games. Unfortunately, the Generals weren’t able to add any more in the third. After three complete innings, the score read 8-2.

In the fourth, the Royals took advantage of another General error to pick up another run to make the score 9-2. The error was on a leadoff grounder to third base. The throw across was a low one and wasn’t able to be picked out. A walk pushed the runner to second with nobody out in the inning. After a fly out to center, the Royals put both runners in motion for a double steal and were successful. A sac fly to left allowed their final run of the game to come in off the bat of John Dyer.

The Gens started to chip away in the fifth. A lead off home run to the opposite field for Jack Murphy (St. Mary’s). The home run was the first of the summer for Jack and it pulled the score to 9-3. The next time the Gens would score was the seventh. A walk to Connor Norby put a runner at first, but the Gens would suffer a fly out and strikeout for the first two outs of the inning. Bryson Worrell (East Carolina) worked a walk to put two on for Gunner Peterson (Illinois State). Peterson came up with the deepest shot of the night for his first home run of the summer. The three run shot pulled the Gens back in the game and made the score 9-6.

Winchester was solid in the eighth and ninth with Kevin Ledford shutting the door with a perfect ninth for his fourth save of the summer.

Key Performers for Winchester:

John Servello: 3-5, RBI, R

John Dyer: 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, R

Kevin Ledford: SV (4), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Aaron Palensky: 1-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

Key Performers for Waynesboro:

Gunner Peterson (Illinois State): 3-4, HR (1), 3 RBI, R

Jack Murphy (St. Mary’s): 2-5, HR (1)

Connor Norby (East Carolina): 1-4, HR (3), 2 RBI, 2 R… 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Daniel Casto (Memphis): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Nick Zegna (George Mason): 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

 

The Generals (20-9) will be back in action on the road in Strasburg on Wednesday when they take on the Express at First Bank Park. The Express are the leaders in the North division and are owners of the best win percentage in the Valley League. First pitch set for 7 pm.

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