6/16/05 – Daily News Record

Delong Leads Harrisonburg In 5-3 Victory Over Woodstock By MICHAEL ROTHSTEIN Daily News-Record WOODSTOCK—Lucas Delong wasn’t sure the ball was headed out of the park when he hit it. At Central High School, the baseball field’s dimensions are deceiving, so the University of San Francisco product couldn’t be positive. But it was, as the right fielder hit a prodigious two-run home run over the right-center field fence in the top of the eighth inning, lifting the Harrisonburg Turks to a 5-3 win over Woodstock in a Valley League baseball game Wednesday. "Out of the box, I knew I hit it well," Delong said. "I knew it was in the gap so I knew we tied the ballgame up but once it went out of the yard I was excited." The win snapped Harrisonburg’s three-game losing streak and dropped Woodstock to 3-8. Delong’s drive negated the early frontrunner for Valley League defensive play of the year turned in the inning before. Harrisonburg’s Brett Munster (California) hit what seemed to be a home run to straightaway center field. But Woodstock center fielder Chris Joseph (Houston) jumped up and made a spectacular catch that helicoptered him over the fence at the 338-foot sign. He robbed what would have been the game-tying home run for Harrisonburg (5-6) at that point. "Unbelievable," Munster said. "Unbelievable play on his part." Joseph lay on the spectator’s side of the fence for about a minute before rising to his feet to a warm ovation. His jaw, though, wasn’t quite as lucky. "I jumped back and found myself catching the ball," Joseph said. "I flipped up and as I was looking down I saw the wooden steps and hit my chin. It feels like my jaw is slanted three inches to the left." Turks manager Bob Wease was ejected for arguing a call in the top of the ninth inning. Harrisonburg 200 000 021—5 8 3 Woodstock 000 300 000—3 7 5 Fussell, Baugh (6), Fessler (9) and Sluder. Duncan, Stringer (8), Selhorst (9) and Hudgins. W—Baugh (1-0); L—Stringer (0-1); S—Fessler (4). HR: H—Delong.