7/15/04 – Daily News Record

By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5), Staunton Dumps Turks By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5), Staunton Dumps Turks By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5), Staunton Dumps Turks By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5), Staunton Dumps Turks By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5), Staunton Dumps Turks By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5), Staunton Dumps Turks By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5), Staunton Dumps Turks By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5), Staunton Dumps Turks By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5), Staunton Dumps Turks By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record STAUNTON – When Drake Wade’s girlfriend is in the crowd, the Staunton right fielder swings a hot bat. She hasn’t missed a home game this season and Wade has responded by hitting a home run in five of his last six outings at Moxie Stadium. It happened again Wednesday, when back-to-back homers from Wade and left fielder Quinn Stewart in the third inning were enough to fuel the Braves to a 7-2 victory over the Harrisonburg Turks in front of 1,175 fans in a Valley League baseball game. The victory ends a two-game skid for the Braves (18-13) and brings them one game closer to first-place Harrisonburg (20-11) in the Southern Division standings. Having lost all four previous contests with the Turks this season, the win was extra special for Braves coach Lawrence Nesselrodt. "The guys knew what was at stake tonight," said Nesselrodt. "We climbed the hill and pulled out a big win. We got these guys one more time at home so we’re not done yet." The Turks play at Staunton again on July 28. Wade, a three-year VBL veteran, remembered Harrisonburg starter Nick Pereria from earlier in the season. "Before when I faced him, he threw me a first-pitch fastball followed by a slider," Wade (Central Florida) said. "He did it again tonight and I took advantage." Pereria entered the game with a VBL-leading 4-0 record and had only given up five earned runs this season. After the home run damage in the third, the University of San Francisco junior settled down and gave up only three hits in the next 5 1/3 innings. Adam Poole (Lincoln Trail) relieved Pereria in the eighth after second baseman Jeff Beachum (Middle Tennessee State) hit his third double of the game. But Poole, facing catcher George Hanger (Tusculum), allowed a two-run double to left-center field that gave the Braves a 7-2 lead. Beachum went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Wade added a double in the first to lead the Braves. In the height of the Braves’ surge during the eighth, play was suspended when a skunk wandered onto the field and proceeded to take a victory lap before crawling under the fence in center field. "The skunk kind of exorcised our demon tonight," said Nesselrodt. After falling behind 4-0, the Turks rallied in the seventh when third baseman Ryan Parker (Indiana) scored off a fielder’s choice from left fielder Jeff Halbert (Rollins). Staunton reliever Chris Perez (Miami) was charged with a balk, which then scored Halbert from third. Parker and shortstop Gered Mochizuki (Yavapai CC) were the only Turks with multiple hits as Harrisonburg dropped their second in the last eight games. "If we won this game, it would have sort of put them in the box," said Harrisonburg manager Bob Wease. "We didn’t play good baseball tonight but we still have 13 games to go." Harrisonburg 000 000 200 – 2 7 1 Staunton 012 001 03X – 7 11 1 Abercrombie, Perez (6), Tucker (8) and Baisley; Pereria, Poole (8) and Sluder. W – Abercrombie (3-0); L – Pereria (4-1). HR: S – Wade (5),