Gens Post Another Comeback In Ninth With Win In Extras
The Generals were down to their last out needing more runs for the second straight night. Tuesday night, it was at home vs the Woodstock River Bandits needing 5 in the ninth. Wednesday it was on the road in Staunton needing three in the ninth.
The game got off to a bit of a slow start for both teams. For Waynesboro, they had just come down off their high from winning over Woodstock in thrilling fashion in a game that lasted well over four hours. Coach Cole admitted after the game that, “We were dead. Everybody was still tired from last night, including me. We had community service early this morning. We were all exhausted.” However, the first run of the game was scored by Waynesboro in the top of the third. Jack Murphy (St. Mary’s) started things off with a single. After two straight hit-by-pitches, the bases were loaded with nobody out. After a strikeout, a wild pitch allowed Murphy to come in and score. Unfortunately, the Gens couldn’t muster up any more offense in the inning.
The Generals scored again in the top of the fourth to make the score 2-0. A double by Joey Kinker (Florida Gulf Coast) got things started. An error on the Braves’ shortstop put runners at the corners with nobody out. The Braves then made another error that allowed Kinker to come in and score. Again the Generals offense stalled with a good situation in front of them. They had runners at first and second with nobody out after the run scored, and they weren’t able to bring anyone else in.
It was in the bottom of the 5th that the Braves struck for all six of their runs in the ballgame. A single by Pastore, a walk to Selden, an RBI double by Brown, and a two RBI single by Brophy put three runs on the board. A pitching change was made for the Generals, but it really didn’t slow down the Braves offense. Two walks loaded the bases before a single brought in another run for the Braves. Finally, it looked like the Gens were going to settle in on the mound. A huge strikeout of the league’s leading RBI man in Andrew Czech gave the Gens their first out of the inning. After a tapper back to the mound looked like it could be the double play the Gens were looking for, an errant throw on the back end sent the ball into the right field corner and allowed another run and gave the Braves another out to work with. Another error by the Gens allowed the sixth and final run to score. The score after five complete innings read 6-2 in favor of the homestanding Braves.
One of the biggest strengths of this General team is that they take the opposing team’s best punch, and always seem to have an answer back. They continued that with Joey Kinker continuing his great night in the very next half inning. He doubled to instantly put a runner in scoring position. Jackson Tate (Alabama) worked a walk to put runners at first and second. After a wild pitch, both runners moved into scoring position with nobody out. Jack Murphy came up with a sacrifice fly to center to bring a run in, but that would end the General rally. The score after six complete was 6-3.
That score would remain until the top of the ninth. In that inning, things seemed to just be on the Braves side. After a walk, the next hitter would hit a ground ball to the shortstop. The ball came up on him, glanced off his chest right into the glove of the second baseman who turned the double play to clear the bases with two outs in the inning and the Generals still needing three runs. Kobe Lopez (Florida International) reached on an error by the Braves’ third baseman to keep things alive. Bryson Worrell (East Carolina) then singled to center to bring the tying run to the plate in the form of the hot hitting Joey Kinker. Two pitches into the at-bat, Joey drilled one high and deep to right centerfield that disappeared into the pines beyond the right field fence. TIE BALLGAME courtesy of Joey Kinker’s first homer of the summer.
The Braves tried to respond in the bottom of the ninth to pick up a walk-off win. After a walk, Andrew Czech came to the plate again. He ripped a ball that seemed to be destined for center field that would have put runners at first and second. But shortstop Kobe Lopez had other ideas. He dove to his left, making a sensational, full-extension dive and catch for out number one. He then had the presence of mind to get to his feet and deliver a strike across the diamond to double up the runner at first. The momentum had now shifted completely into the Generals favor.
They didn’t waste the momentum in the 10th. Jackson Greene (Florida State) ripped a double down the left field line. Jack Murphy dropped down a perfectly placed sacrifice bunt to move Greene to third. The Gens tried to play more small ball with Brad Burckel (U of Houston) at the plate. His bunt was a hard one right back to the pitcher who was able to flip on to the catcher to nab Greene for out number two. However, on the very first pitch in the next at-bat, Burckel stole second base and headed for third on an errant throw by the catcher. The centerfielder saw Burckel going to third and was going to try to throw him out. There was only one problem… He forgot to field the ball, and it rolled past him deeper into centerfield. Burckel then rounded third and headed for home, making it easily on the second error on the Braves on the same play. The Generals lead going into the bottom of the 10th by a score of 7-6.
Waynesboro turned to Nick Zegna (George Mason) to shut the door in the bottom of the 10th. The tall righty came to the mound filled to the brim with confidence. He went three up, three down, and struck out two in the process for his first save of the summer. The Gens had completed their second comeback victory in as many nights.
Key Performers for Staunton:
Duncan Pastore: 2-4, 2 SB, R
Colin Brophy: 2-4, 2 RBI
Ronald Brown: 1-5, 2B, RBI
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
Jack Murphy (St. Mary’s): 2-3, RBI, R
Kobe Lopez (Florida International): 2-5, SB, R
Joey Kinker (Florida Gulf Coast): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
Daniel Casto (Memphis): W (1-1), 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Nick Zegna (George Mason): SV (1), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
The Cardiac Gens (12-7) will be back in action on Thursday night at home vs the Winchester Royals. First pitch at Integrity Home Mortgage Park at Kate Collins Field is set for 7 pm.
Generals Blast 3 Homers in Regular Season Finale
The Generals came out hot in the early going on the road in Staunton to push them towards a 13-5 victory in the last game of the regular season.
Marcus Ragan (Arkansas Little Rock) wasted no time getting the offense up and running. He doubled into right center on the second pitch of the game. After being bunted to third, Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston) hit a high fly ball to center field for a sacrifice fly for the first run of the game. This set up the 2-out, nobody on, situation that Andrew Orzel (Wofford) stepped to the plate to. Orzel would hammer a ball over the trees that stand behind the left field fence. He and his teammates were still getting settled back into their seats in the dugout when Bo Seccombe (Faulkner) unleashed on his first home run of the summer in just his second game with the club. The score after 1 full inning of play was 3-0 Generals.
The Gens didn’t stop after the first inning. They continued in the 2nd where they left off in the first. Staunton managed to get the first two hitters out in the inning. Trey Polewski (USC Aiken) didn’t allow the Gens to go down easy. He singled to left field. Marcus Ragan followed him up with his second hit in as many innings. After a pitching change, Hunter Johnson (JMU) hit a line shot over the centerfield fence to make the score 6-0.
After nothing going on for either side in the 3rd, the 4th proved to be fruitful for the Gens. Chris Brady (Patrick Henry CC) started things off with a walk and would move to second on a sacrifice bunt. Marcus Ragan would come up with his 3rd hit of the night, this time for an RBI single. Hunter Johnson would move Ragan to third with a single but would be thrown out at second trying to stretch it into a double. Tyler Bielamowicz would step in and deliver a 2 out double to bring in Ragan. Orzel would single to right and bring in Bielo for the third run of the inning. The score as 9-0 going into the bottom of the 4th.
The Braves would finally get on the board in the bottom of the 4th when Eric Connor hit a solo home run to centerfield. Then in the 5th, they’d tack on another run via the solo home run. This time the culprit was Bryson Parks. Then in the 7th, the Braves would start to make things interesting. Gens fans can’t help but remember the 9-2 lead they blew to Staunton earlier on in the year. They would start to have flash backs in the 7th. The Braves would start the inning off with a double, a walk, and a wild pitch to get two runners into scoring position. 2 batters later, a single would bring in a run and put runners at the corner with one out and the score at 9-3. After a walk to load the bases, Tyler Thompson (Austin Peay) would stride to the mound out of the bullpen to try and limit the damage. He would get the hitter to roll a slow ground ball to shortstop for out number 2, but another run was able to score. Runners were again at the corners, this time with two outs and the score at 9-4. A groundball with eyes would make its way through the infield to put up the third and final run in the inning. The score after 7 innings was a much closer 9-5 tally.
The Gens wouldn’t allow the comeback this time though. They bounced right back for 4 runs in the top of the 8th. Trey Polewski would work his way on with a walk and would be bunted to second. Hunter Johnson would bring in Polewski with a single and would move to second base on the throw. After a Jackson Webb (UCF) walk and an error by the first baseman on a grounder by Andrew Orzel, Bo Seccombe would come through with another huge knock. It was a bases clearing triple by Seccombe that would bring the score to the 13-5 mark that it would finish with.
Key Performers for Staunton:
- Eric Conner: 1-4, HR
- Bryson Parks: 1-3, HR
- Jeremy Cook: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Marcus Ragan (Arkansas Little Rock): 3-4, 2B, RBI, SB
- Bo Seccombe (Faulkner): 3-5, HR, 3B, 4 RBI
- Andrew Orzel (Wofford): 2-4, HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
- Hunter Johnson (JMU): 3-4, HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
- Justin Beyer (Wagner): W (2-1), 3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- Tyler Thompson (Austin Peay): 2.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
The Generals finish the season at 24-18, 4 games better than last year’s record. They have earned the 3rd seed in the South Division and will begin the playoffs Sunday night at CVille Weekly Ballpark when they take on the 2nd seeded Charlottesville TomSox. The playoffs series are all best-of-3 format.
Gens Fall to Staunton On the Road
A trio of 3 run innings by the Braves put enough distance from the Generals to take down Waynesboro in comfortable fashion. While Waynesboro scored in 5 of the 9 offensive innings, it wasn’t enough to keep up with Staunton.
The first of the 3 run innings from the Braves came in the bottom of the first inning. The first hitter of the game doubled to left center to start things off. He was moved to third after a sacrifice attempt was botched by the General catcher. After a stolen base, runners were on second and third when a sacrifice fly was hit to center. The throw from center got away and allowed the runner from second to move up. The next Staunton batter doubled to right center to drive in another run and make it 2-0. The final run scored came 2 batters later on a 2 out single to right.
The Gens would respond with a run in the top of the second. Bryce Teodosio (Clemson) led the inning off with a hit-by-pitch. 2 batters later he stole second to put himself in scoring position. After Bruno Teramoto (New Mexico St.) was hit by a pitch, Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston) drove a double right over the center fielder’s head for the first run of the ball game for the Gens. Unfortunately, they would strand Bruno at third. After 2 complete innings, the score would stand at 3-1.
In the bottom of the 4th inning, the Braves would unleash their second 3 run inning. It started with a 1 out walk. The next hitter would single and move runners to the corners with 1 out. When starting pitcher Evan Gillespie (Faulkner) would pick the runner off of first base, a run-down would ensue. When the runner from third took off for the plate, the General shortstop fired home and the ball scooted away from the catcher. So a run had scored and the runner that was picked at first went all the way to third. Trey Jacobs would follow all that up with a first pitch, 2-run homer for the Braves. The score was now 6-1 in favor of Staunton.
The Gens would bounce back in the top of the 5th to score another run. The Generals loaded the bases with nobody out in the inning. Tyler Bielamowicz would start things with a walk, followed by singles by Jackson Webb (UCF) and Alex Webb (Chipola) to load them up for the 4 through 6 hitters with nobody out. It looked to be the big inning the Generals would need. Andrew Orzel (Wofford) would hit a bleeder into center that would drop, but Alex Webb would be putout at second base for the first out. It would go as an RBI fielder’s choice for Orzel. The Braves starter Buckshot Flynn would then work a strikeout and a ground ball to get out of the inning with minimal damage. The score was 6-2 after 4 and a half innings.
The Braves would then put up their third and final 3 run inning to basically put the game out of reach. They got things started with a single and a walk to put runners at first and second. After a sacrifice bunt to move runners into scoring position, the hitter would come through with an RBI single to put runners at the corners. When the runner from first took off to second for a stolen base attempt, the throw from the catcher was a low one and the ball hit the lip of the infield and came up and caught Jackson Webb in the face. As the ball bounded away, the runner from home scored. After a wild pitch, an RBI groundout would be enough for their third run of the inning. The score after 5 complete would be 9-2.
The Generals would score 1 in each of the 6th, 7th, and 8th innings to tighten things up. In the 6th, Keegan Morrow (UAB) doubled to start things off. After a single by the newest addition to the team Dayton Beasley (Middle Georgia) to move Morrow to third, Tyler Bielamowicz came up with an RBI sacrifice fly. In the 7th, Alex Webb would start things off with another single. He would be followed by Andrew Orzel’s league leading 17th hit-by-pitch to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Keegan Morrow would drive in Webb for the only run of the 7th. In the 8th, another 2 out RBI single by Andrew Orzel would tighten the score to 9-5. However, in the bottom of the 8th the Braves would add a run on a 1 out single to move the score to 10-5. That ended up being the final.
Key Performers for Staunton:
- Trey Jacobs: 2-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
- Brandon Hernandez: 2-4, 2B, SB, RBI, R
- Bryson Parks: 3-4, 2 SB, RBI, 2 R
- Eric Conner: 2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R
- Buckshot Flynn: W, 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston): 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R
- Alex Webb (Chipola): 3-5, R
- Keegan Morrow: 2-4, 2B, RBI, R
Waynesboro (21-16) will take a much needed day off Thursday and will be back at home to take on the Charlottesville TomSox in a big South division matchup Friday night at Kate Collins Field.
Waynesboro Tops Staunton On the Road
There wasn’t much hitting going on Wednesday night at John Moxie Stadium at Gypsy Hill Park. However, the hitting that did happen was in timely situations. The teams combined for 7 hits all night.
The Generals struck quickly with a 2-out homerun from Chase Cheek (Duke) to move the score to 1-0 early on.
The story of the ball game came from Waynesboro starting pitcher Nathan Schneider (St Mary’s). He threw 5 innings of no-hit baseball while striking out 3. The one runner that reached base on him was via the walk in the third inning. Schneider has now put together some impressive outings. In his last 9.2 IP, he’s only allowed 1 hit.
The 5th and 6th innings are where the Generals did most of their damage. In the 5th, one-out back-to-back walks to Alex Brait (Florida Gulf Coast) and Tyler Bielamowicz (Houston) started the inning. Two batters later, a walk for Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss) loaded the bases. Jackson Webb (UCF) came through with a 2 RBI single. Gabe Montenegro also scored in the inning on a wild pitch. The score moved to 4-0 through 4 ½ innings. As mentioned, Schneider continued his dominance in the bottom of the 5th to set his team up for another good inning in the top of the 6th.
A walk to Dalton Wingo (UCF) with one away in the inning was the only baserunner on for Alex Brait, who unloaded on a full count pitch for his first homer of the year to move the score to 6-0. The Generals seemed to be in complete control.
The Braves managed to manufacture a run in the bottom of the 8th with a lead-off walk moving to second on a wild pitch, advancing to third on a long fly ball to center field, and scoring on a single. Through 8 innings, the score was 6-1 and the Generals had held the opposition to only 2 hits.
The Braves also tacked a run on in the 9th to make the final 6-2, but never really threatened the lead of Waynesboro.
Key Performers for Staunton:
- Dean Hermanson: 2-2, RBI
- Ryan Flores: 2 IP, 1 H, 2 K
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Jackson Webb (UCF): 1-4, 2 RBI
- Chase Cheek (Duke): 1-4, Solo HR (1)
- Alex Brait (Florida Gulf Coast): 1-3, 2-R HR (1), BB
- Nathan Schneider (St Mary’s): W (1-0), 5 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 1 BB, 3 K
The Generals were rained out on Thursday night at home vs. the Strasburg Express, but will be back in action Friday night on the road in Harrisonburg. The Generals will be looking to avenge the loss they took at the hands of the Turks a week ago.
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.
Generals Top Staunton, Win Seventh Straight
The Waynesboro Generals’ (21-9) offense continued its hot streak Thursday night against the Staunton Braves (11-19) with a 14-5 road victory.
Waynesboro continued to score runs at a torrid pace as the team has now scored 73 runs in their last six games.
Zach Sterry started the scoring off with a solo home run in the top of the first, his eleventh of the season, to make it 1-0. Another run tacked on by an Eli Putnam solo shot in the second gave the Generals an early 2-0 lead. Romy Gonzalez answered right back for Staunton with his own solo home run in the bottom of the second to cut the lead in half. Brent Sakurai scored in the top of the third on a wild pitch followed by another Staunton run to make it a 3-2 ballgame.
The Generals picked up another run in the sixth on an Andrew Bullock home run, his fourth straight game with a homer, to make it 4-2. Staunton would come back to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh, however, on a Jordan Fucci two-run home run before the Generals broke the game open in the final two innings with ten runs.
In the eighth, Tracy Hadley delivered a single with the bases loaded and an error by the right fielder allowed all three runs to come home and score, making it 7-4. Hadley and Tanner Poole would later score in the inning on a fielder’s choice to put the run tally at five for the inning. Errors cost the Braves dearly as all five runs scored by the Generals were unearned.
Staunton scored one more run in the bottom of the eighth to make it 9-5, but the Generals piled on five more runs in the top of the ninth to extend their lead. Hadley delivered again with a two-RBI double and would score on a Poole triple to make the score 12-5. Sterry drove in the final two runs with a double to give the Generals a nine run advantage would hold for the rest of the game.
David Ehmen was the winning pitcher for the Generals after throwing seven innings while allowing four runs on eight hits with four strikeouts. Tanner Kirby pitched the final two innings, giving up just one run on two hits. He struck out two and walked one batter.
UP NEXT: The Generals will travel again to face the North Division-leading Strasburg Express in a game that will begin at 7:00 pm.
Offense and Pitching Combine in 17-0 Blowout of Staunton
Winning pitcher Tyler Howe threw six and one-third scoreless innings against the Braves Monday.
A combined shutout from three pitchers along with seventeen runs on nineteen hits gave the Waynesboro Generals (20-9) a huge 17-0 home win over the Staunton Braves (10-17) Monday evening.
Eleven Waynesboro players hit safely in the game with eight having a multiple hit game. The Waynesboro offense continues to score runs in abundance recently with 59 runs scored in their last five games.
A big bottom of the first inning gave the Generals a quick 5-0 lead over Staunton. Zach Sterry scored the first run with an RBI single followed by another single by Eli Putnam that score two more. Andrew Bullock then crushed his third home run of the year, a two-run shot, to score two more and put their lead at five.
The offense continued to deliver in the bottom of the second scoring four more runs to extend the lead. Staunton miscues allowed the bases loaded before a bases loaded walk, fielder’s choice, and sacrifice fly scored three runs. Bullock delivered an RBI double to give the Generals a 9-0 lead.
Waynesboro would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the third to continue the rout. Sam Palensky drove in Brent Sakurai with a sacrifice fly before Sterry came through with another RBI single to make it 11-0 Generals.
Three more runs in the bottom of the fourth put the Generals up 14-0. T.J. Condon deposited an RBI single, then Brent Sakurai drove in two more runs with a double to left. Two more would score in the sixth on a two-RBI single by Bryant Bowen, and the lead widened to sixteen runs. Only one more would come across in the bottom of the eighth as the Generals came out on top 17-0.
Tyler Howe began the game on the mound for Waynesboro and pitched six and one third scoreless innings while allowing only two hits in picking up the win. He also finished with five strikeouts and two walks. Dylan Burns pitched two innings of relief giving up two hits as well with two strikeouts and one walk. Conner Loeprich finished the game in the ninth and allowed no hits with one strikeout.
Coach Williams’ Player of the Game: SP Tyler Howe (6.1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 2 BB, 5 SO)
UP NEXT: The Generals will face the Harrisonburg Turks in a home game at 7:00 pm Tuesday evening with a chance to take the division lead.
