Generals Drop 3rd Straight in Charlottesville
Back-to-back 3-run innings were too much to handle for the Generals on Monday night in Charlottesville. The Generals were only able to muster 4 runs on 13 hits.
Things looked promising in the early going for the Generals. They were looking to snap a minor 2 game skid heading into the home of the most recent Valley League Champions in Charlottesville. In the top of the 2nd, the Gens were looking for a huge inning after a leadoff single from Andrew Orzel (Wofford) was followed by a double by catcher, Alex Brait (FGCU). The Generals ended up only getting one run in the inning after a pop up to short, a sacrifice fly to deep left by Jackson Webb (UCF), and a strike out.
In the 3rd inning, the Gens started with three straight hits. Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss) led off with a double and was brought in by a Chase Cheek (Duke) double. Cheek was brought around to score immediately after that on an RBI single by Tanner Thomas (Virginia Tech). The inning took an abrupt turn, however, when Thomas stole second on a 3rd strike and the home plate umpire ruled Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston) leaned across the plate, deeming it batters interference. The score after 3 was 3-0 in favor of the visiting Generals.
It wasn’t until the 4th that the TomSox were able to crack Waynesboro starter Nathan Schneider (St. Mary’s). Schneider was on to work another inning and was ambushed by three straight hits and a walk to the first four batters, chasing him from the game early. Pat McColl started things out with an infield single. He was followed by two straight doubles to bring in two runs. Fred Villarreal (Houston) came on to relieve Schneider with nobody out in the inning and runners on first and second base. Villarreal was able to roll a double play ball to give him a chance to get out of the inning with the lead still intact. However, the next hitter scorched one to the right center gap. Tanner Thomas gave a leaping attempt, but couldn’t quite bring it down. The score was tied after 4 complete at 3-3.
In the 5th, the TomSox jumped right back on it. After getting the first out, Villarreal hit 2 batters and walked another to load the bases. One run was brought in on a slow roller to second base, moving runners to second and third with 2 outs. The TomSox took advantage of having runners in scoring position with a 2 out, 2 RBI single to push the score to 6-3 after 5 innings.
The Generals would make a small comeback attempt in the top of the 8th inning with 3 straight 2 out singles by Alex Brait, Tyler Trovinger (Oakland), and Jackson Webb. Webb’s was enough to bring in Brait to cut into the lead 6-4. The Generals left Trovinger stranded on third base to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 8th, the TomSox were able to do something no team has been able to do this year. They were able to get a hit and a couple runs off of closer Gio Soto (FIU). After all the dust settled in the bottom half of the inning, the TomSox lead 8-4. The top of the 9th proved to be unfruitful for the Gens and that score proved to be the final.
Key Performers for Charlottesville:
- Brett Centracchio: 1-4, 2B, 3 RBI, R
- Nick DiPonzio: 2-2, 3B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, R
- Cameron Weinberger: W (3-0), 3.2 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 K
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Chase Cheek (Duke): 2-5, 2B, RBI, R, SB
- Tanner Thomas (Virginia Tech): 2-5, RBI
- Jackson Webb (UCF): 2-3, 2 RBI, SB
- Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss): 2-4, 2B, SB, R
- Alex Brait (FGCU): 2-4, 2B, R
- Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
The Generals will look to snap out of this cold stretch with a home game against the Harrisonburg Turks at Kate Collins Field.
Generals Snap 3-Game Skid In Win Over Front Royal
The Generals had lost 3 straight games to drop under the .500 mark coming into the game Sunday night against the Front Royal Cardinals at Bing Crosby Stadium. The bats came alive for 13 hits to propel them to a win over the North Division leaders.
The scoring started in the top of the 3rd. With one out in the inning, Dalton Wingo (Central Florida)
Dalton Wingo: 3-3, 2B, HR, 3 R
connected on his 2nd homer of the season to begin his fantastic night at the plate. Then in the third inning, Jackson Webb (Central Florida) led off the inning with a single, stole second, and was brought into score on a Chase Cheek (Duke) grounder that couldn’t be handled by the second baseman. The lead after 4 complete innings was 2-0 in favor of the Generals.
Once again, the 5th inning began with a lead-off single. This time it was Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston) getting things started. Dalton Wingo then doubled off the wall in left field to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Kyle Wrighte (William & Mary) came through next with a single to score Bielo. After the RBI single, Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss) hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Wingo. Going to the bottom of the 5th, the Generals led 4-0.
The Cardinals wouldn’t go away quietly. Evan Gillespie (Faulkner U) was throwing a gem, but would stumble just slightly in the 5th. After getting the first hitter of the inning to fly out, Gillespie gave up a walk and 2 doubles to the next three hitters. However, he would do a nice job working out of the inning with the last double being left stranded at second base. The lead was still intact at 4-2 Waynesboro.
In the top of the 6th, the Generals would make it 4 straight innings with a run. Tyler Trovinger (Oakland) would start the inning off with a single to left. 2 batters later, Dalton Wingo would contribute his third hit in as many at bats. That brought Kyle Wrighte to the plate with runners at first and second with 2 outs. After going down 0-2 in the count, Wrighte scorched a double off the wall in right field to bring in both runners.
Matt Nickles (Randolph-Macon) would sub in for Gillespie in the 6th. He worked a perfect two innings, facing the minimum 6 batters. After 7 complete innings, the Generals led 6-2.
In the bottom of the 8th, the Generals ran into some trouble. The inning seemed to be all but over after recording outs on the first two hitters of the inning. However, Spencer Packard drilled a home run to start a string of 5 straight 2-out hits. Christian Avant hits a double 2 pitches later, followed by Kendall Small hitting a no-doubter to right field. The Generals would then bring in Patrick O’Shea (St Mary’s) for the struggling Jacob Weirich (Southern Miss). O’Shea would surrender 2 straight singles and his night would be finished as well. So with 2 outs in the inning, Coach John Jeanes (Chipola) would turn to his closer Gio Soto (Florida International) for a four out save.
Soto came on, got out of the inning, and then threw a dominant 9th inning to lock down his 3rd save of the year.
Key Performers for Front Royal:
- Andrew Burden: 2-5, 2B, 2 RBI
- Spencer Packard: 1-3 HR (1)
- Kendall Small: 1-4, 2-Run HR (1)
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Chase Cheek (Duke): 2-5, 2 SB(3)
- Kyle Wrighte (William & Mary): 2-4, 2B, 3 RBI
- Dalton Wingo (Central Florida): 3-3, 2B, HR(2), 3 R
- Evan Gillespie (Faulkner U): W (1-0), 5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
- Gio Soto (Florida International): SV(3), 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
The Generals (5-5) will be looking for back-to-back wins tomorrow, Monday June 18th, when they take on the South Division leaders, the Charlottesville TomSox (8-3). Come out this week and support your Generals. They will have home games Monday and Tuesday (Charlottesville both nights), Thursday (Strasburg), Saturday (Staunton), and Sunday (Purcellville).
Bring your friends and family to Kate Collins field for some high-quality baseball this week. Hope to see you there!
Generals Use Huge 6th Inning to Top Purcellville
The Generals found themselves trailing 1-0 after 5 complete on the road in Purcellville. A big 6th inning, along with a solid outing from the pitching staff, prevented them from losing their third straight.
After the Cannons scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the third, Generals starting pitcher, Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston), worked his way through his outing with 6 strikeouts. He went 4 innings, allowed 2 hits and a run. Matt Nickles (Randolph-Macon) came in to relieve while the Generals were behind 1-0. He threw 2 innings and only gave up a single hit. He earned his first win of the year. Patrick O’Shea (St Mary’s) was the bridge to the 9th. He managed to throw 2 innings, giving up 3 hits, a walk, but striking out 4. This paved the way for Gio Soto (Florida International) to throw a clean 9th for his 2nd save of the year.
As for the offense, Jordan Ammons (Mercer) stepped in to start off the 6th, and immediately drilled a double into the right center gap. He was moved to third by Kyle Wrighte (W&M) on a ground ball to the right side. 2 batters later, Chase Cheek (Duke) drove in Ammons with an infield single. Cheek’s single was the beginning of 4 straight two out hits, including RBI doubles by Alex Webb (Chipola) and Tyler Trovinger (Oakland).
Key Performers for Purcellville:
- Jacob Freeland: 3-4, 2B
- Blade Baker: 1-2, BB, R, SB
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Chase Cheek (Duke): 3-4, SB, R, RBI
- Tyler Trovinger (Oakland): 2-4, 2B, 2 RBI
The Generals (4-3) will be back in action tomorrow night at home vs. the Covington Lumberjacks (6-3) at 7 pm. Waynesboro will turn to Justin Beyer (Niagara County CC) on the hill.
Generals Surge Late to Nip Strasburg
The Waynesboro Generals opened their home schedule at Kate Collins Field with a three run 7th and a four run 8th to post an 8-5 comeback victory over the Strasburg Express.
Usually in an 8-5 ballgame, there would be plenty of hitting going on. However Wednesday night, that was not the case. Strasburg opened the scoring with a bases loaded walk in the top of the second. That lead didn’t last long though, as Dalton Wingo (UCF) lead off the bottom half with a monstrous solo homer that landed, and eventually crossed, Hopeman Parkway to even the score at 1-1.
The scoring picked back up in the 4th for Strasburg when Austin Thompson ripped a 2-RBI single to centerfield off of starter Bryan Wilcox (Florida Gulf Coast). Two batters later Tyler Krabbe rolled a ball to third that was mishandled by General third baseman Tyler Trovinger (Oakland), allowing another run to score and lengthen Strasburg’s lead to 3.
After a few quiet middle innings, Waynesboro sprung for 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning to tie the game at 4. Jordan Ammons (Mercer) came through with a one-out RBI single to right to drive in Jackson Webb (UCF). Later in the inning, Tanner Thomas (Tallahassee CC) hit a ground ball to Express first baseman Stephen Baughan, who threw the ball into right field to allow Ammons to score the second run of the inning. Two pitches later, a pickoff attempt caught Thomas in a rundown between first and second. When Kyle Wrighte (William & Mary) tried stealing home while Thomas was in a pickle, he was caught by Stephen Baughan. Later in the same at-bat, Thomas stole third and forced an errant throw from catcher Jimmy Jefferies, allowing Thomas to score the tying run.
Patrick O’Shea (St. Mary’s) replaced Hunter Shuff (USC Aiken) to start the top of the 8th, but allowed a leadoff walk to come around to score on another RBI single by Austin Thompson, moving the score to 5-4.
The Generals did most of their damage off of Strasburg’s Sylvester Toe in the bottom of the 8th. Toe loaded the bases and then walked in the tying run. He lasted 0.1 innings giving up four earned runs on one hit and 3 walks.
Jordan Ammons came through in another clutch situation with a sacrifice fly to right field to give Waynesboro the lead. After a balk, Kyle Wrighte hit a 2-RBI single to right field for some insurance runs. The score moved to 8-5 in favor of the Gens after 8 complete.
Gio Soto (FIU) came on to fire an impressive 9th inning to earn his first save of the summer, racking up 2 strikeouts in the process.
Strasburg Key Performers:
- Austin Thompson: 2-4, 3 RBI, 2 SB
- Jimmy Jeffries: 1-2, 2 BB, 2 R
- Garrett Richards (ND): 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Waynesboro Key Performers
- Dalton Wingo (UCF): 2-3, Solo HR (1)
- Jordan Ammons (Mercer): 1-3, 2 RBI
- Kyle Wrighte (William & Mary): 1-4, BB, 2 RBI
- Hunter Shuff (USC Aiken): 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K
The Generals (2-1) are back in action tomorrow night, June 7th, at home vs. the Purcellville Cannons (2-2) at Kate Collins Field.
Warner Adds Local Flavor; Soto Joins from FIU
Waynesboro, Virginia
The 2018 Generals will feature a little local flavor in a former Turner Ashby standout, Cody Warner, as he will be joined by hard throwing Gio Soto from Florida International. Warner is a catcher/utility player for Virginia Military Institute as Soto is a right-handed pitcher throwing in the relief role for the Panthers of FIU.
Cody Warner – Catcher/Utility
A native of Harrisonburg, Virginia, the 5’11 180-pound freshman made his way to VMI following a stellar career at Turner Ashby High School where he was a two-time first team all-conference catcher and ranked the #5 catcher in the state by Prep Baseball Report. Warner was also named the 2017 District and Conference Player of the Year. Warner currently sits with a .231 average in his freshman season with the Keydets as his most valuable asset is his ability to play multiple positions.
Gio Soto – Right-Handed Pitcher
A native of Miami, Florida, the 5’11 220-pound sophomore is a hard throwing right-handed pitcher out of the Panthers’ bullpen. Soto currently dons a 4.09 ERA over 13 appearances this season, along with 1 save and 13 strikeouts over 11 innings pitched. Soto looks to be a vital piece on the back-end of the Generals bullpen this season.
Waynesboro Amateur Athletics Inc is a 501(c)(3) corporation. Your donation is greatly appreciated. Visit waynesborogenerals.net for more information and game schedules.
