WEEK IN REVIEW: WAYNESBORO PICKS UP BACK-TO-BACK WINS IN DOMINANT HOME DISPLAYS
The Generals played four of five games at home during week six of the VBL campaign, winning twice in fewer than nine innings to eclipse double-digit victories on the year.
GAME TWENTY-FIVE (7/5): NEW MARKET – 7, WAYNESBORO – 6
The Gens led the majority of the night against the Rebels thanks to a five-run bottom of the third. They then tacked on an insurance run late to lead 6-4 through eight frames, and promptly retired two of the first three hitters in the top of the ninth.
Unfortunately, out No. 27 proved to be the toughest one to secure. Five consecutive New Market batsmen reached base with two down, propelling the Rebels in front by a single run. A 1-2-3 bottom half allowed them to claim an improbable win.
Key Pitching Performance(s): Gehrig Schreiber – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K (ND)
Key Hitting Performance(s): Braden Forchic – 2/4, R, 2 RBI, BB, K
Waynesboro Record (Streak): 8-17 (L2)
GAME TWENTY-SIX (7/6): WAYNESBORO – 7, FRONT ROYAL – 1 (F/8)
Anxious to recover from Wednesday’s sorrowing defeat, the Generals found themselves in a pitcher’s duel through six innings versus the visiting Cardinals. Nick Berryman and Cole Schiff were excellent, yielding only three hits apiece.
The third on Schiff though ultimately decided the game. With two outs in the sixth, Isaiah Mirabal slapped a ball over the left field wall for his first home run as a General. The three-run shot put Waynesboro ahead 4-1 before rain eventually forced the game to be called early.
Key Pitching Performance(s): Nick Berryman – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R (0 ER), 3 BB, 3 K (ND)
Key Hitting Performance(s): Isaiah Mirabal – 1/2, HR, R, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Waynesboro Record (Streak): 9-17 (W1)
GAME TWENTY-SEVEN (7/7): WAYNESBORO – 11, NEW MARKET – 1 (F/8)
A true redemption opportunity arrived at the Generals’ doorstep when the Rebels returned to Union Home Mortgage Park just 48 hours after escaping with a victory.
Waynesboro capitalized on the chance. Six different Gens reached base three or more times, and the pitching staff limited the opposition to only one run for the second game in a row and third time this summer.
Key Pitching Performance(s): Nate Scott – 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R (0 ER), 4 BB, 5 K (W)
Key Hitting Performance(s): Braden Forchic – 3/4, 2B, 3B, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, 2 SB; Riley Frost – 4/5, 2B, R; Alex McCoy – 3/5, 2B, 4 R, RBI, BB, 2 SB
Waynesboro Record (Streak): 10-17 (W2)
GAME TWENTY-EIGHT (7/8): WOODSTOCK – 6, WAYNESBORO – 4
The Gens made their first trip to Woodstock since early June in search of a third straight win, but came home empty handed.
The River Bandits flicked a pair of two-run homers over the short porch in center during the bottom of the third, then answered Haiden Walters’ fourth-inning two-RBI hit with one of their own in the latter half. A run apiece in the fifth and seventh for the Gens closed the gap, but they were unable to muster anything else.
Key Pitching Performance(s): Dave Wilson – 3.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 6 K (ND)
Key Hitting Performance(s): Isaiah Mirabal – 2/4, 2B, R
Waynesboro Record (Streak): 10-18 (L1)
GAME TWENTY-NINE (7/9): STRASBURG – 16, WAYNESBORO – 6 (F/7)
The Express entered the game with back-to-back losses. The second was dealt by the Charlottesville TomSox, who made the trip to Strasburg and moved into first place with their 7-6 win.
Waynesboro’s quest to dish out a third consecutive defeat was short lived. A patient approach enabled each member of the Strasburg starting nine to draw at least one walk. Each time the Generals scored, the Express piled on multiple runs in the succeeding frame.
Key Pitching Performance: Matthew Sheppard – 1.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R (0 ER), 0 BB, 1 K (ND)
Key Hitting Performance: Alex McCoy – 1/3, R, RBI, K, 2 SB; Sean Shelly – 1/2, 2B, R, RBI, K, HBP
Waynesboro Record (Streak): 10-19 (L2)
INTERESTING TIDBITS
A FORCH(IC) TO BE RECKONED WITH
Braden Forchic’s first appearance in front of a Gens crowd ended in memorable fashion when he supplied the walk-off hit in a 7-6 win over Harrisonburg. But that is far from the only thing the Barry Buccaneer has done since joining Waynesboro at the season’s halfway point.
The Miami Shores, FL. native has torn up the Valley, rocking an OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) of 1.413 in his last six contests. That mark tops both the Gens and the entire VBL (minimum 20 plate appearances) over the past week. On the year, Forchic’s slash line (batting average/on-base percentage/slugging percentage) is .333/.519/.462 in thirteen games.
GREAT SCOTT!
Benito Valle-Jhanda has earned immense praise for his lengthy performances on the mound for the Generals this season. However, were you aware that he is actually not the clubhouse leader in innings pitched for the Gens?
That distinction belongs to fellow SP Nate Scott, who has been viewed as the Robin to Valle-Jhanda’s Batman for Waynesboro. The Galveston product has a claim to even more fame than the Boy Wonder possesses though with his numbers.
Among qualifiers league-wide, Scott sits second in strikeouts (32), fifth in innings (27.1) and eighth in ERA. He is one of seven pitchers across the Valley to make six or more starts, and is the lone member of that septuplet to complete at least four frames every time he has toed the slab.
Scott’s next start is slated for Thursday in Harrisonburg against the Turks.
KK Homes Pitcher of the Week: Nate Scott – 1 APP. (1 S): 5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R (0 ER), 4 BB, 5 K; 1-0, 0.00 ERA
SabreCat Bats Hitter of the Week: Braden Forchic – 6 G (5 S): 8/16 (.500 AVG.), 3 2B, 3B, 4 R, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 2 K, 3 SB (0 CS)
STANDINGS UPDATE
Charlottesville (17-8) had an eight-game winning streak quelled by Winchester in part one of a doubleheader yesterday afternoon. The second part was suspended due to rain, meaning the TomSox maintained the edge on first they established by beating Strasburg (19-9) on Saturday night. The aforementioned Royals (16-11) are alone in third place, just a half-game in front of Harrisonburg (15-11).
Culpeper (14-15) has continued its midseason rise and now sits in fifth place. The Cavaliers were tied for eleventh in the Valley at the conclusion of week three, and were occupying eighth in our most recent update. Covington (13-14) and Woodstock (13-14) reside in a tie for sixth.
Front Royal (14-16) currently holds the advantage over Purcellville (12-14) for the final playoff spot because of win percentage. Both teams are 3-7 in their last ten games.
Staunton (10-16) finds itself in the top ten for the first time this summer, usurping a New Market club that has lost four consecutive games. The Rebels (11-19) are a half-game in front of the Generals (10-19).
WEEK SEVEN SCHEDULE
The penultimate week of the VBL slate sees Waynesboro take the field eight times in seven days. The Gens longest string of road games occurs Thursday-Saturday, with four away outings in 72 hours thanks to a doubleheader in New Market.
7/10: @ Front Royal
7/11: vs. Covington
7/12: vs. Winchester
7/13: @ Harrisonburg
7/14: @ New Market (DOUBLEHEADER)
7/15: @ Staunton
7/16: vs. Charlottesville
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