Written by Brien Krug
Turks Staff Writer
June 27, 2021
The surging Turks entered the night on a season long winning streak of 5 games as they prepared to host the scuffling Purcellville Cannons who entered the night losing 6 of their last 8.
Following a slight lightning delay, the game got underway with Will Mercer (0-0, 5.40 ERA) making his 2nd start of the year for Bob Wease, who was looking for his 500th career win. Mercer would get into some trouble in the first allowing back to back 1 out singles before setting down the next two hitters escaping the jam.
The Turks would follow up with a scoreless inning of their own and this was the story of the game for Harrisonburg. Joe Vogatsky (1-0, 3.78 ERA), the Purcellville starting pitcher, would shut down the Turks, pitching 6.0 IP with 3 H, 0 R and 10 K.
Finally Purcellville would open the scoring in the 7th. With Michael Rosario entering his 3rd inning of work, he would give up a leadoff double to Cannon CF Christian Collier, his only allowed hit of his outing. A sac bunt would move the runner to 3rd and with the infield in Devin Goins would hit a grounder that would be fielded by Safferwich but the throw was just a tiny bit late as Collier came in to score the opening run of the game. Matthew Poston would come in and set down the Turks 1-2-3 sealing the 1-0 win for Purcellville.
Game 2 would get underway shortly following the conclusion of Game 1 with Mac Callari, making his 2021 VBL debut, on the bump for Harrisonburg. After 2 quiet offensive innings, Purcellville would open the scoring. A 1 out double got the Cannons started in the 3rd. After a ground out recorded the second out, Purcellville leadoff man, Houston King, would hit his 1st homer out to deep right giving the Cannons the early lead. Geordon Blanton would follow up King’s homer with an inside park homer of his own that Turks left fielder Peyton Crispin would lose in the dark night sky.
Following the big 3rd inning for Purcellville a small weather cell would cross through Harrisonburg causing a 40 minute delay. Once the game got started back up, Brett Whiteman would replace Callari and pitch 4 scoreless relief innings keeping the Turks in the game. Harrisonburg would keep the game interesting in the 4th. After the first two hitters of the inning would strikeout, the Turks would get back to back singles from Peyton Crispin and Connor Hartigan setting the stage for the NCAA DII National Champion Logan McNeely. After getting down 0-2 early in the count McNeely would foul off 3 straight pitches before finally winning the battle and lacing his 3rd double in 4 games into the left center cutting the Cannon lead to 1.
After the productive 5th inning, Harrisonburg would only manage to get 2 baserunners the rest of the game and lose Game 2 3-2. With chances to get VBL Hall of Famer Bob Wease’s 500th win, the Turks would get swept for the 2nd time this year.
The Turks (9-8) are back in action tomorrow when they host the Waynesboro Generals (11-9) at 7:30 PM in a make up game from June 10th.