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 Show Resilience In Front Royal but Come Up Short

Written by Jack Fitzpatrick
Turks Broadcasting Intern

FRONT ROYAL– The Harrisonburg Turks (1-1) dropped a nail-bitter to the Front Royal Cardinals (3-0) 6-5 on Tuesday at Bing Crosby Stadium.

In the Turks first away game of the season, they fell into a hole early and were never able to completely climb out.

The Cardinals were able to jump out to a quick 3-0 lead by way of a Brady Ballstadt 3-run homer. Front Royal never relinquished that lead as it was able to hold on despite numerous Turks chances.

Harrisonburg had their opportunities to take the lead on multiple occasions. In the eighth and ninth inning the Turks loaded the bases with no outs, however the Cardinals managed to escape and hold the end each Turks rally.

In total the Turks left 13 runners on, and they were only able to score five off of 12 hits, three hit batters and six walks. Several Turks base-running errors were key in short circuiting big innings.

Harrisonburg was only able to string together multiple runs in one inning just a single time. In the fifth inning they found their rhythm after the Cardinals pulled their starting pitcher, Christopher Krennrich, and brought in Josh Steele. Harrisonburg took advantage and off of a Brett Whelton (McNeese State, Junior) single, a Josh Madole (UNC-Greensboro, Sophomore) double and a David Craan (Illinois, Senior) single it cut the lead down to just a 5-4 ball game. After that though neither team had much consistency.

The Cardinals took advantage early of the opportunities the Turks handed them. After not pitching in a game for the last two and a half years, the Turks started Alex Carpenter (Florida State, RS-Junior). Carpenter showed some rust as he tossed just 2.2 innings and walked six with five runs allowed. Those five runs though were all the Cardinals ended up needing in the end.

The bright spot in the Turks pitching effort tonight was Daniel Brandon (Longwood, Sophomore) who pitched three innings, struck out five, allowing one hit.

Five Turks had 2 hits led by Whelton, who doubled and added to his team-leading RBI total. The Turks played errorless in the field, but the missed offensive opportunities and pitching wildness were too much to overcome.

The winning pitcher for the Cardinals was Biasiello (1-0) and the losing pitcher for the Turks was Jake Lane (0-1)

On Wednesday, the Turks take on the Staunton Braves back home at Veterans Memorial Park. It will be Luray Caverns Night, so the first 100 fans will receive a free admission ticket to Luray Caverns. First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m.

For the Front Royal Cardinals, they travel to Fireman’s Field to take on the Purcellville Cannons and put their perfect 3-0 record on the line.