7/19/05 – Daily News Record

Beat Front Royal For 4th Straight By Marcus Helton Daily News Record The Harrisonburg Turks seem to have fine-tuned their defense just in time for a run at the Southern Division title. Harrisonburg turned in an error-free performance to win its fourth game in a row Monday, and Jeff Carroll and Josh Richardson each hit two-run singles as the Turks beat Front Royal 4-2 in a Valley League game at Memorial Stadium. "I think we’re all starting to come together towards the end of the season," Richardson said. "We’re getting some real good pitching and we’re starting to mix in some hitting and defense, and I think we have a real good team that could do a lot in the playoffs." The Turks improved to 20-16 and moved within two games of Southern Division-leading Covington. The loss snapped Front Royal’s nine-game win streak and dropped them to 17-16. "We played a good ballgame," Turks manager Bob Wease said. "We’re starting to play a little bit better now. It’s a shame we lost two or three games that we had won and threw away, because if we had won those games we’d be right where I wanted to be – in front place." The Cardinals jumped to a 2-0 lead after two innings against Turks starter Sean Jarrett (Arizona), but Harrisonburg tied it in the fourth inning after Carroll (Ohio State) lined a single to right off Front Royal starter Mark Parsons (Union) to tie the game at 2-2. The game remained dead-locked until the seventh inning when Richardson (Indiana) hit a high fly to left field that fell just beyond the reach of diving Front Royal left fielder Zach Cooper (South Carolina-Aiken) to score two runs and put the Turks up 4-2. "I was ahead in the count," richardson said. "I figured he would come at me with a fastball, and I put a good swing on it. I saw it and I got lucky, I got a hit to left field." It proved to be all the offense the Turks would need. Harrisonburg infielder/pitcher Jason Seefeld (Arizona) threw a hitless eighth inning in just his third pitching appearance of the season, and Chris Fessler (Yavapai Junior College) retired the side in the ninth to pick up his 11th save. Richardson, who has split time at second base with lead-off hitter Tony Thomas (Florida State) this season, finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead Harrisonburg. "(Richardson’s) been not playing the past two or three games," Wease said. "But he’s a gamer, he steps right up there and gets a base hit to left field and wins the ballgame. He did a good job for us tonight." Wease was pleased with his team’s performance defensively, and his players echoed the sentiment. Richardson attributed the Turks’ error problems this year to mental fatigue. "I think for a while there, we were just kind of going through the motions," he said. "We had long years at svchool, a long summer, and … I think we’re just coming together and really we’re just focusing and playing hard really. Just going out and getting after it." Carroll, who finished 1-for-4 with two RBIs, agreed. "Me and Seefeld were talking last night about how we’re starting to turn the corner we think," Carroll said. "We’re finally starting to get guys in the right position… People are starting to come around. I think we’re starting to feel a lot more comfortable. I know I am." Front Royal 110 000 000 – 2 8 1 Harrisonburg 000 200 20x – 4 7 0 Parsons, Anderson(6), Turner(7), Brookens(8) and Nichols. Jarrett, Seefeld (8), Fessler (9) and Denker. W – Jarrett (3-1) L – Turner (3-2) S – Fessler (11)