7/01/04 – Daily News Record

TURKS Edge Waynesboro By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record WAYNESBORO – The Turks’ hitting duo of Corby Heckman and Joe Kemp went a combined 2-for-10 when Harrisonburg traveled to Waynesboro last Saturday. But that was before the hitting bug decided to bite the Turks. The Indiana University imports extended the first-place Turks’ offensive onslaught, combining for two singles, two doubles and a triple to lead Harrisonburg to a 4-2 victory over Waynesboro in front of 250 fans at Kate Collins Field on Wednesday in a Valley League Baseball game. The win was the team’s fifth straight. Pitcher Tim Gudex (Iowa) pitched another gem for the Turks (13-8) going six innings, surrendering one run on six hits. The left-hander fanned eight in the game to extend his season total to 43, which leads the Valley League. "It all starts with our pitching staff," said Kemp, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI. "As good as we’ve been hitting, they’re the ones that give us a chance to win." The Turks bullpen has only given up 12 runs in the last five games – all Harrisonburg victories. Pitcher Tyler Norrick (Southern Illinois) relieved Gudex in the seventh inning and struck out four of the first five batters he faced. Kemp’s triple to right-center field scored Heckman from first base to tie the game at one apiece in the sixth. Next up was designated hitter Ryan Gotcher who fought off a 3-2 count to hit an RBI-single to left field to score the go-ahead run. "The guys are really starting to come together," said Turks manager Bob Wease. "When they make mistakes, it seems like somebody will step up for us every time." After Generals reliever Josh Drew (Georgia Southwest) walked right fielder Kevin Koski (Southern Illinois) to lead off the seventh, it was center fielder Reggie Watson’s line drive to left field that scored Koski to give Harrisonburg a 3-1 advantage. Koski slid past the tag from catcher Matt Smith and Watson (Indiana) reached second base when Waynesboro manager Derrick McDaniel protested the play at home. "I’m not going to make any excuses, that’s baseball," said McDaniel, who was ejected from the game following the argument. Heckman, the next batter, hit an RBI-double down the left field line as the Turks cruised to their second victory over the Generals (5-15) in five days. Second baseman Matt Mercurio (Florida Southern) hit an RBI-single in third for Waynesboro. Right fielder Matt Bransfield (Notre Dame) went 2-for-2 with a walk to lead the Generals on offense. Harrisonburg 000 002 200 – 4 9 1 Waynesboro 001 000 010 – 2 8 0 Gudex, Norrick (7) and Weglarz; Schwartz, Drew (7), Mellies (8) and Smith. W – Gudex; L – Schwartz.