Harrisonburg Turks

Member of the Valley Baseball League and NACSB.

  • 1955 VBL Champions
  • 1958 VBL Champions
  • 1959 VBL Champions
  • 1962 VBL Champions
  • 1964 VBL Champions
  • 1969 VBL Champions
  • 1970 VBL Champions
  • 1971 VBL Champions
  • 1977 VBL Champions
  • 1991 VBL Champions
  • 2000 VBL Champions
  • 2012 VBL Champions
  • 2023 VBL Champions

Turks Beat Haymarket, 7-5

7/06/2007 – Turk Tidbits

Written By Jessica Merrill James Madison University Sports Management Intern Harrisonburg, Va. By the top of the sixth inning Haymarket thought their odds looked pretty good against the second place Harrisonburg Turks, boasting a 4-0 score on the scoreboard in right field. Once the bottom of the sixth rolled around however, the game broke open. Turks’ second baseman Travis Peep (Chandler, Arizhttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Arizona) led off the inning by drawing a walk off of Haymarket pitcher Brandon Graves (Crawfordville, Flahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Appalachian State). With help from a wild pitch and a single by shortstop Ryan Wood (Woodbridge, Vahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/East Carolina), Peep reached third base. Catcher Robert Taylor (Ingram, Texas/Ark-Little Rock) would then reach on a fielder’s choice, while Peep would try to score on the play. Peep would be out at home plate but would run down the catcher in the process while trying to score. Questions arose from the Haymarket dugout on the play, wondering why Peep was not penalized for not sliding on the play. Left fielder B.J. Wheeler (Abilene, Texas/Clarendon) would come to the plate next for the Turks and get hit by a pitch from Graves. Both dugouts and bullpens would empty as Wheeler started towards the mound with the thought that he had been intentionally hit due to the play at the plate before hand. It was only after both teams had retreated back to their rightful sides that the Turks’ bats began to light up. First baseman Brett Stewart (Niceville, Flahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Appalachian State) would draw another walk off of graves that would score Wood. Designated hitter John Murphy (Scottsdale, Arizhttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Arizona) would then reach on an error by Haymarket shortstop Jeff Garidel (Baton Rouge, Lahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Louisiana State), Talyor would score on the play. Right fielder Alex Lyons (Orem, Utah/Taft) would single to center field and advance to second scoring both Stewart and Wheeler in the process. Center fielder Sammy Lee (Ninnekah, Oklahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Redlands C.C.) would single through the left side of the field scoring Murphy. Pitcher Neil Malpass (Destin, Flahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Florida State) would come in to relieve Graves for the Senators, but the change on the mound wouldn’t change things for the Turks at the plate. Peep would come to the plate once again and single into left field to score Lyons, the sixth and final run of that inning. The only runs that would score in the final three innings of the game would be two solo homerun shots, one by each team. Wheeler would hit the first shot into deep left field for the Turks putting them on top by a score of 7-4. Garidel would answer however, in the top of the eighth with another solo shot, this time into right field. With help from their bull pen the Turks pulled out another win, their eighteenth of the season. Pitcher Jim Kennedy (Levittown, Pahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/Rider) got the win for the Turks tonight, coming out the pen in the top of the fourth to relieve starting pitcher Ty Pryor (Orlando, Flahttps://harrisonburgturks.com/NewsManager/North Florida). Kennedy would only give up four hits and one run in 4.1 innings pitched. Closer Garrett Parker (Duncanville, Texas/Howard) would come in to finish the job for the Turks earning his third save of the season. The Turks will look to pull out another win against the first place Waynesboro Generals tonight when they travel to Kate Collins Field for a 7:30PM start.