Generals Week in Review: Week One

By Braden Ramsey

WAYNESBORO, Va. – The Waynesboro Generals began the 2023 Valley League summer season on a solid note, bookending week one with a pair of victories against the Charlottesville TomSox and Winchester Royals.

GAME ONE (6/1): WAYNESBORO – 3, CHARLOTTESVILLE – 2

The Gens found themselves lined up across from the reigning VBL Champion TomSox on Opening Night, but did not shy away from the limelight. Waynesboro scored all three of their runs in the top of the second inning, with Alex McCoy driving in two on a single to right field.

Every member of the starting nine reached base, providing scoring opportunities throughout the game. The Generals were unable to capitalize in the middle and later innings, but already notched all the runs they would need thanks to strong pitching.

Benito Valle-Jhanda, who got the starting nod, providing four innings of two-run ball before ceding to Charlie Dohemann. The RHP from Skyline College (San Bruno, CA) didn’t miss a beat, allowing only two hits while striking out eight across the final five frames to secure the win.

Key Pitching Performance: Charlie Dohemann – 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 8 K (W)

Key Hitting Performance: Alex McCoy – 2/4, 2 RBI, BB, SB

Waynesboro Record (Streak): 1-0 (W1)

GAME TWO (6/2): STAUNTON – 10, WAYNESBORO – 7 (F/10)

The Generals showed grit in their home opener, climbing back from a 5-0 deficit to force extras. Danny Garcia’s pinch-hit RBI single with Waynesboro down to its last out tied things at seven, but the visiting Braves pushed three runs across in the top half of the tenth to lock up the victory.

Key Pitching Performance: Jack Sullivan – 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 0 K (ND)

Key Hitting Performance: Jeremy Wagner – 3/5, R, RBI, SB

Waynesboro Record (Streak): 1-1 (L1)

GAME THREE (6/3): WOODSTOCK – 9, WAYNESBORO – 4

Manager Matty Holem’s team was back on the road for its third outing of the year, taking the trip up I-81 to battle the Woodstock River Bandits.

The Gens were in a tight battle for the first five innings, but a Grand Slam by Woodstock’s Hunter Smith busted the game open in the bottom of the sixth.

Luis Ramirez had five of Waynesboro’s ten hits in this one, falling just a triple short of the cycle.

Key Pitching Performance: Conor Hensley – 4.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 ER), 3 BB, 4 K (ND)

Key Hitting Performance: Luis Ramirez – 5/5, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI, SB

Waynesboro Record (Streak): 1-2 (L2)

GAME FOUR: WAYNESBORO – 15, WINCHESTER – 1 (F/7)

A return home proved to be the remedy for the Generals’ woes. The scoring outburst was buoyed by an eight-run bottom of the third that saw Luis Ramirez hit his second home run in as many days. Eight of nine starting position players scored for Waynesboro.

On the mound, Nate Scott came out firing and struck out seven in three perfect frames to begin the game. He ended up going five innings, allowing four hits (all singles) without walking a man to pick up the win.

Key Pitching Performance: Nate Scott – 5.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R (1 ER), 0 BB, 7 K (W)

Key Hitting Performance: Luis Ramirez – 2/4, HR, R, 3 RBI, SB

Waynesboro Record (Streak): 2-2 (W1)

INTERESTING TIDBITS

SWIPER, YES SWIPING!

Through four games, Generals baserunners have stolen 14 bases and been caught stealing just one time. Alex McCoy (6) and Jason Brown (3) are both top five in the Valley League in the category, with McCoy currently pacing the pack.

WAY TO WEAR IT!

Waynesboro ranks second in the Valley League with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .415, trailing only Purcellville (.434). The Gens are middle of the pack with 20 walks (BB), but have already been hit by pitch (HBP) on 12 occasions, most in the Valley League. Julian Uejima is one of two players in the league to have been plunked in three plate appearances thus far.

KK Homes Pitcher of the Week: Charlie Dohemann – 1 APP. (0 S), 5.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 8 K; 1-0, 0.00 ERA

Sabre Cats Bats Hitter of the Week: Luis Ramirez – 3 G (3 S), 8/14 (.571 AVG), 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, BB, 3 K, 2 SB

STANDINGS UPDATE

The Generals are in the middle cluster of the Valley League standings through four games, residing with the Front Royal Cardinals, Winchester Royals and Charlottesville Tom Sox in a fifth-place tie at 2-2. Harrisonburg, Woodstock, Purcellville and Strasburg are all tied for first place with 3-1 marks, while Covington, Culpeper, New Market and Staunton bring up the rear at 1-3.

WEEK TWO SCHEDULE

6/6: vs. Covington Lumberjacks*

6/7: vs. Purcellville Cannons

6/8: @ New Market Rebels

6/9: vs. Front Royal Cardinals

6/10: @ Culpeper Cavaliers

6/11: @ Strasburg Express

*The 6/6 game vs. Covington was originally listed as an away game. It is now a home game.

Follow the Generals all season long on all social media platforms, including Facebook (Waynesboro Generals), Instagram (@waynesborogeneralsva) and Twitter (@wborogenerals).