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 Rally Late to Nip Generals

07/11/2008 – Daily News Record

Written By Dave Norman Harrisonburg Turks Harrisonburg- Never say die. It is easier to say than do these days against the Waynesboro Generals. The Harrisonburg Turks mounted a 2-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning and held on the defeat the first-place Generals 5-4 at Memorial Stadium in Harrisonburg. The Generals took a 2-0 lead with single runs in the second and third innings before the Turks plated three in the bottom of the third to grab back a 3-2 lead. Hits by Chris Murphy (Southern Illinois) and Daniel Heatwole (Hagerstown C.C.) cashed in two costly walks issued by Waynesboro starter right-hander Jake Cowen. Cowen was dominant overall allowing just two hits over seven innings fanning seven. Turks Lefty starter Matt Chaffee (Arizona) pitched six strong inning and gave way to Chase Sonen in the seventh and a lead-off double by Grant Buckner (West Virginia). Sonen retired two hitters and appeared to be out of the jam on a line drive at Turks left-fielder David Mann (Oklahoma City University). Mann could not make the catch and the game was tied at three. In the Generals eighth, Greg Meleski doubled to set the table again. After a pop out a two walks loaded the bases, Sonen induced the pitchers best friend, the inning-ending double play, to get the Turks out of trouble. In the Turks eighth, Heatwole singled and the Turks pinch ran with speedy Wilsisky Baez (Western Oklahoma). The plug appeared to be pulled on the uprising when Mark Brooks (Bethune Cookman) lined out to short and Baez was doubled off of first. This was a night however when the Turks would not say die. Murphy bashed a ground-rule double deep to left-center field. Mike Precise (Troy) followed with a game-tying, RBI-single to right. Drew Johnson (San Francisco) grounded another single to left and Precise scored to make it 5-4. Justin Wood (JMU) relieved Sonen in the ninth after a one-out single. Wood struck out the final two hitter to seal the win. Chase Sonen (1-2) was the winning pitcher. Wood earned his second save. Murphy and Heatwole each had two hits for Harrisonburg. Buckner had two knocks for the Generals. The Turks improve to 11-19 and will travel to face New Market on Saturday. Waynesboro falls to 20-10 and will host the Front Royal Cardinals.