Back to Back Homeruns Not Enough for Turks as They Fall 7-5
Written by; Adam Cherry Intern LaSalle
It was an overcast, humid, rainy afternoon as the Turks took on the Charles Town Cannons at Jefferson High Schools Sager Field in Charles Town, West Virginia. There was a light breeze coming across the cornfields behind the right field fence blowing on the baseball field. Coming into the game, the Turks were riding a three game winning streak with wins over Front Royal, Winchester and Woodstock. Boone Mokry (UTSA) got the start for the Turks. The Cannons decided to give the start to the lefty out of Grand Rapids Community College, Austin Stephens.
Justin Harris started the first inning off with a triple hit to right field for the Cannons. It appeared that the right fielder had a tough time reading the ball off the bat and tried to compensate by diving but was just short. The second hitter of the inning walked on four pitches. The Cannons were aggressive on the first inning by stealing second base. With runners on second and third and one out, Matthew Gandy roped a single up the middle scoring the runner from third. Mokry was able to get out of the inning by his defense turning a double play to end the inning. The Cannons led 1-0 after the first inning
Eric Kalbfleisch (UNCG) led the second inning off by getting hit in the arm by the first pitch from Stephens. Brandon Gold (Georgia Tech) laced a line drive into right field scoring Kalbfleisch from first base. Right fielder, William Endris, let the ball get by him, letting Gold run to third on the play. Hunter King (UNCG) lined another ball at Endris but he could not get to it, scoring Gold from third. The Turks led 2-1.
Mokry walked the first hitter of the second inning on five pitches after working ahead 0-1. Chris Townsend was able to steal second on the 3-1 pitch from Mokry. A base hit from Chaz Pal scored Townsend from second. Andrew Yacyk was able to bring home Pal with a big fly to center field clearing the 385 sign. Mokry was able to retire the next three in a row to end the Cannons rally. After two innings, the Cannons led 4-1.
The Turks hit back-to-back home runs for the first time this season in the third inning. Steven McLean (Baylor) lead the inning off with a hard hit ball that was able to clear the fence in left field, moving the Turks within one run. After seeing three pitches from Stephens, Thomas Spitz (Wingate) flexed his muscle and hit a home run over the left center field fence tying the game at four.
Brett Morgan (Wingate) came in to relieve Boone Mokry in the fifth inning. Morgan pitched his way to a quick two outs. Matthew Gandy was the third hitter of the inning and walked after working a full count. Greg Brodzinski then ripped a two out double over the Kalbfleisch’s head in left field scoring Gandy. After five innings, the Cannons break the tie and go ahead 5-4.
The Cannons decided to bring in Trey Jones from James Madison University in the seventh inning. The soft throwing right handed pitcher hit Joey Roach after his fourth pitch of the inning. After Roaches at bat, the trainers ran on the field to check out Jones. He was removed from the game due to injury. Austin Ray took his place on the mound. After Rays warm up pitches, Steven McLean came to hit. McLean sacrifice bunted down the third baseline to advance Roach to second. On a 2-2 pitch, Spitz was able to chop a ground ball over the third basemen’s head. The left fielder had trouble picking up the baseball, letting Spitz advance to second. Thomas Smith (Georgia Tech) hit a lazy fly ball to left field. Roach was able to tag and score to tie the game at five.
The Cannons brought in Jared Jordan to relieve Ray in the eighth inning. He was able to retire the Turks without giving up any runs. The good pitching and defense this inning was crucial for the Cannons to score the game-winning run.
The Turks manager decided to take out relieve pitcher Tanner Shelton (Georgia Tech) after only one inning of work. The next pitcher for the Turks was Tyler Brown (Wingate). Chaz Pal started the bottom of the eighth inning with a hard ground ball that was just out of the reach of diving third basemen Brandon Gold (Georgia Tech). This gave the Cannons a runner on second base with no outs. Andrew Yacyk hit a slow ground ball to the backhand side of Steven McLean who was unable to make the play. The next hitter for the Cannons hit another slow roller to McLean who was able to get the out at first. Mclean had only one play to make on the slow roller and that was to first base. That ball was able to score Pal from third and advanced Yacyk to second. Stephen Karr hit another hardball down the third baseline, which enabled Yacyk to score. Brown was able to get out of the inning surrendering two runs. After eight innings, the Cannons took a two run lead.
The Cannons decided to bring in closer Clayton Payne to finish the game. He retired the Turks in order to close out the Cannons victory. The winning pitcher for the Cannons is Jared Jordan while Payne gets the save. Tyler Brown gets the loss for the Turks. The Turks move back to .500 with a record of 4-4. The win tonight puts the Cannons at a 5-4 record.