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

‘Cooper’stown

06/29/2010 – Turks Tidbits

Shaun Cooper’s Two-Run Shot Lifts TURKS to 3-2 Victory over Luray

By Thomas Cornwell Boston College Intern

Harrisonburg—For three-and-half innings Tuesday night it seemed as though neither the Harrisonburg TURKS (13-7) nor the Luray Wranglers (11-9) would find their groove offensively as TURKS pitcher Stephen Kohlscheen (Auburn) and Luray pitcher Cody Weiss battled each other pitch for pitch, keeping either team from sniffing the scoreboard. However, in the bottom of the fourth inning Shaun Cooper (Pima C.C) did what he does best as he hit a two-run homer to give the TURKS a 2-0 lead en route to a 3-2 victory over the visiting Wranglers.

The night got off to a rather shaky start for the TURKS as Kohlscheen allowed back-to-back one out singles in the bottom of the fourth before finding his groove, preventing the Wranglers from threatening for the remainder of his six inning outing. For his first three innings, Luray pitcher Cody Weiss matched Kohlscheen pitch for pitcher, setting the stage for an old fashioned pitcher’s duel. In the fourth inning, however, the TURKS bats began to come alive against Weiss and the scoreboard lit up for the TURKS in more than one way.

The fourth inning began innocently enough for the TURKS, but with two outs, Scott Dalrymple (Oklahoma City) singled to left field. Shaun Cooper then stepped into the batter’s box for the TURKS and launched a homerun just over the right field fence and into the bottom of the purple-clad scoreboard. The homerun gave the TURKS a 2-0 lead and proved to be the difference maker for the Cardiac TURKS as the game would once again become tight down the stretch. The homerun was also Cooper’s team leading sixth homerun of the season.

The TURKS would strike again in the seventh inning, ignited by a Joe Huber (St. Joe’s, IN). Terrance Jackson (Oklahoma City) followed with an infield groundball that was not fielded cleanly by the second baseman on an attempted fielder’s choice, allowing Jackson to reach and Huber to advance to second. During Connor Winn’s (Georgia Tech) at-bat, a passed ball allowed Huber to score, giving the TURKS a 3-0 lead.

Luray broke through in the top of the eighth inning, scoring on a passed ball to make the lead 3-1 in favor of Harrisonburg. Once again, things got a little hairy in the top of the ninth, with a fielding error ultimately leading to the Wrangler’s second run with two outs. Stephen Styck (St. Joe’s, IN) was able to strikeout the final Luray batter, securing the 3-2 victory for the TURKS, keeping them atop the VBL standings.

Tonight showed the TURKS ability to thwart adversity, putting this past weekend’s road woes behind them, an important ability in a long baseball season. And as we approach the half-way point of the season, the TURKS sit right where they want to be: atop the VBL standings.

For those of you in the neighborhood, or those just looking for an evening of fun, support the first place TURKS tomorrow at the VET as they host New Market at 7:30pm.