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

Valley Baseball League: Five-run eighth spurs Braves

Turks News / By /

7/4/05 – Staunton News Leader

Coffey delivers in the pinch By Al Samuels Sports Writer STAUNTON— The Staunton Braves broke a 3-3 tie with five runs in the eighth inning Sunday night for an 8-3 win over the Harrisonburg Turks in a battle for second place in the Valley Baseball League’s South Division. Andy Coffey came off the bench in the eighth to deliver a big two-run single with one out that put the Braves on top for good. Staunton went on to add two more tallies for good measure. "It’s tough to sit over there and watch, but you’ve got to be ready when you get your chance," Coffey said. "He struck me out on three pitches up at Harrisonburg earlier. I was just looking for a fastball and hit it." The Braves also got a sacrifice fly from Andy Kiriakedes, a run-scoring double from Drew Bunting and an RBI single from Brandon Marsh, who had homered in the sixth inning, to give the Braves a brief 3-1 lead. Miami’s Manny Miguelez gave the Braves a quality start with 5 1-3 innings of work. He allowed one run on four hits while walking five and striking out five. Andy Svitak got the win with 3 2-3 innings of relief. He allowed one earned run on two hits, striking out four and walking four. "Manny gave us five good innings and Andy’s relief job kept us in the game," Staunton manager Lawrence Nesselrodt said. "And I was glad to see Jason come through for us again. He got a big hit up at Luray to help us out there, too." Turks starter Shawn Benson struck out 11 in six innings before Marsh tagged him in the sixth. Staunton got to two relievers for the big eighth-inning uprising. Bunting and Marsh led the 10-hit attack with two each. The Braves also got outstanding defensive efforts from center fielder Jamie Ray and Marsh in right as both nailed Harrisonburg runners at the plate to keep the Braves in the game. Staunton (15-12) moves ahead of the Turks (13-11) into second place in the South. After an off day, the Braves are back at Moxie Stadium on Tuesday night for a visit from Haymarket. Benson, Dawson (7), Fessler (8) and Sluder. Miguelez, Svitak (6) and Engelhardt. W — Svitak. L — Dawson. HR — Marsh (S) 6th, none on; Seerfield (H) 7th, none on.