Generals Get Back to Winning Ways On the Road In Harrisonburg
In the final game before the All-Star Break, the Gens faced an important “swing game” for their record. If the Gens won, they’d have a record above .500. If they lost, they would have a record of below .500. The Generals would win the ball game to make it 5 wins in their last 6 opportunities.
The Generals would get on the scoreboard in the very first frame and would never relinquish the lead after that. It started when Chase Cheek (Duke) drew a 1-out walk. He eventually stole second base with 2 outs in the inning to put himself into scoring position. Alex Brait (Florida Gulf Coast) would bring home Cheek with an opposite field double to move the score to 1-0.
The Gens would not score in the second, but they would tack on a run in both the 3rd and 4th innings. In the second inning, the run would be scored after the first two hitters of the inning. Kyle Wrighte (William & Mary) would walk to start the inning. He would steal second base and eventually score on a single by Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss). In the 4th inning the Generals would once again start things off with a walk. Jackson Webb (Central Florida) would walk. After the steals of second and third on consecutive pitches by Webb, it drew in the infield for Harrisonburg. Andrew Orzel (Wofford) would hit a grounder to the shortstop. When Webb bluffed a few steps, it pressured the shortstop to charge the ball to try and prevent him from scoring. However the ball caromed off his glove into left field. The score after 4 innings was 3-0 in favor of the Generals.
Evan Gillespie (Faulkner) was impressive on the mound. He went 3.2 innings without surrendering a hit to start the game. He had worked 4 shutout innings when he came to a bump in the road in the 5th inning. The Turks would score 2 off of him to tighten the score to 3-2. 2 runners would be on for Harrisonburg with two away in the inning when the newest Turk, Orynn Veillon, drilled a triple into the right centerfield gap. Gillespie would retire the next batter and end his day after 5 stellar innings.
The Generals would answer right back with a run to provide the Waynesboro bullpen with a little more breathing room. It began with a 1-out double by Dalton Wingo (Central Florida). Andrew Orzel would single to drive in his second run of the night to make the game 4-2. The Gens would then turn to Fred Villarreal (Houston) for middle relief and he wouldn’t disappoint. He threw 3 innings, gave up 3 hits, but no runs and struck out 4. He would hand it over to Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee) for the ninth. Harper-Cook would continue to pitch well and would lock down the save.
Key Performers for Harrisonburg:
- Orynn Veillon: 2-3, 3B, BB, 2 RBI
- Andrew Llewellyn: 2-4
- Cam Irvine: 2-4, 2B
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Evan Gillespie (Faulkner): W (2-0), 5 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 2 K
- Fred Villarreal (Houston): 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K
- Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee): SV (1), 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
- Gabe Montenegro (Southern Miss): 2-5, RBI
The Generals (14-13) will fire things back up after the All-Star Game this weekend. They’ll start with Woodstock on the road on Monday. Graham Ashcraft (Mississippi State) will be on the hill.
Generals Bats Quieted In Loss to Staunton
The Generals entered the game with Staunton on Thursday night with a 4-game win streak. The last loss that the Generals had suffered was at the hands of the Staunton Braves last Saturday. The Braves pitching staff would find a way to shut down the bats of the Gens this time, allowing only 6 hits and 2 runs.
The big blow to the Generals in the game was a 3-run 3rd inning by the Braves. The inning started with an error by the Generals. After being moved to second base on a swinging bunt up the first baseline, Dean Hermanson came through with an RBI single to centerfield to open the scoring. After recording another out, a 2-out walk would come back to haunt the Gens. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Brett Willett stepped in. A wild pitch would move both runners into scoring position, and Willett would deliver with a single to drive both in. The score after 3 innings was 3-0 in favor of Staunton.
In the top of the 4th, the Braves would be threatening again. They had runners on first and second with nobody out. However, when Eric Conner sent a 2-hopper to the third baseman Bruno Teramoto (New Mexico St.), he would step on third and deliver a strike to Jackson Webb (UCF) at second base. Webb would then make a quick transfer and throw to Andrew Orzel (Wofford) that was in time for the 5-4-3 TRIPLE PLAY!
Alex Webb (Chipola) would follow the inning ender up with a triple to right center field to start the inning. Dalton Wingo (UCF) would eventually bring him in with an RBI groundout, but that would be the only run in the inning. After 4 complete, the score was 3-1 Braves.
Both teams would score one run each in the 6th inning. Staunton’s came off of a solo home run by Brandon Hernandez. Waynesboro’s came on an error with 2 outs in the inning. This would lead to the final score with not much happening offensively in the last three innings of the game.
Key Performers for Staunton:
- Evan Flynn: W (1-1), 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
- Brandon Wilkes: SV (3), 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
- Brandon Hernandez: 1-3, HR, RBI, 2 R
Key Performers for Waynesboro:
- Andrew Orzel (Wofford): 1-2, 2B, BB, HBP
- Bryce Teodosio (Clemson): 1-2, BB, HBP, R
- Hunter Shuff (USC Aiken): 2.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
- Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
The Generals (13-13) will be back in action one more time before they start their All-Star break. They’ll travel to Harrisonburg to take on the Turks on Friday in an important swing game for their record.
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.
Covington Pitching Staff Blanks General Hitters
The pitching trio of Tyler Burnham, Zachary Burch, and Jordyn Eglite for the Covington Lumberjacks shut out the Generals on Friday night in front of a great crowd at Kate Collins Field.
The General pitching staff pitched well, only allowing 1 earned run on only 6 hits. However, the top of the 2nd inning wasn’t a good one for Waynesboro. After a 1-out walk, starting pitcher Justin Beyer (Niagara County CC) managed to roll a ground ball to first base for a double play opportunity when the throw to second base wasn’t handled. That was followed by a walk to load the bases. After an RBI groundout, Nathan Loyd singled to center to pick up 2 more RBI to make the score 3-0. Trevor Rogers added a run in the top of the 6th on an RBI ground out to second base to make the score 4-0.
Justin Beyer had a strong pitching line of 5.1 IP, 4 R, 1 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, and 2 K but ended up taking the loss. Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee) pitched well in relief of Beyer. Harper-Cook threw 3.2 innings, allowing 0 runs on 3 hits and 1 walk. He also managed to strike out 2.
The Generals will be back in action Saturday night on the road at Harrisonburg when they take on the Turks at Veterans Memorial Park.
Lumberjack Bats Prove to be Too Much for Generals
The Waynesboro Generals opened up the 2018 season on the road in Covington with an 8-3 loss to the Lumberjacks. While the Gens struck first, a six run 5th inning from Covington put them in too deep of a hole.
Matt Ellmyer (Wofford) started the Opening Night ballgame for the Generals. Other than a solo shot by Covington’s Tyler Hill in the bottom of the 2nd, Ellmyer seemed to be in control. However, six straight two-out hits by the Jacks put runs on the board quickly. Ellmyer wasn’t able to finish the 5th and gave way to Cole Trichel (Louisiana Monroe). Trichel ended up giving up a run in the 7th inning for the final score on either side. Overall, the Jacks rail out 8 runs on 10 hits with 5 of those hits being of the extra-base variety.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Generals struggled to get anything going in the right direction. Covington pitchers allowed only six hits, but gave up eight walks and one hit-by-pitch. Covington’s defense also made three errors, one of which brought in a run for the Gens. There were 13 runners left on base in total for Waynesboro and only 1 RBI.
Top performers for the Generals:
- Tyler Trovinger (Oakland): 2-4, 2B, RBI
- Alex Harper-Cook (Tennessee): 2 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 0 R, 1 K
Top Performers for the Lumberjacks:
- Tyler Hill: 2-3, 2B, Solo HR, 2 R, 2 RBI
- Ryan Fitzgerald: 2-2, 2 2B, RBI
The Generals are slated to open up at Kate Collins field Saturday night against the Charlottesville Tom Sox. Graham Ashcraft, the highly touted right-hander from Mississippi State, is the probable pitcher for Waynesboro.
