Big Fifth Keys Turks

06/12/2010 – Daily News Record

By ADDISON WEBB Special Correspondent Daily News Record

HARRISONBURG – Early in Friday night’s game, the Turks’ batters were struggling to give starting pitcher Drew Granier support against Covington. However, that changed quickly in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Scott Dalrymple (Oklahoma City University) had the key blow in a 13-hit game for Harrisonburg, knocking three runners in on a triple in the fifth as the Turks won 5-1 in a Valley League baseball game at Eagle Field, just their second win this season.

“I knew I needed something away for a run to score,” said Dalrymple, who finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run.

Dalrymple also had a standout night behind home plate, catching Granier’s complete game.

“It was awesome,” Dalrymple said about working with Granier. “I’m just happy to catch him. He pitched a hell of a game.”

The Turks (2-4) were perfect on defense Friday night; a statistic that Granier was thankful for.

“Defense was great, I was just throwing strikes, letting them work,” Granier, who plays at Louisiana-Monroe, said.

And Granier said, his outing Friday should provide great momentum moving on.

“I feel good about it. It’s been a while since I pitched,” Granier said. “Everything went good, and just [try] carry it on the rest of the season.”

Covington coach Arlan Freeman said his team didn’t have the right approach facing Granier, chasing pitches out of the strike zone.

“We were swinging at pitches that weren’t strikes,” Freeman said. “They executed and we didn’t.”

Freeman remained optimistic his team – which fell to 1-3 – will play better as it develops some chemistry.

That’s something that appears to finally coming together for the Turks. Players who have recently arrived to join the team had big impacts on the field.

“We got Scott Dalrymple from Oklahoma City and T.J. Jackson from Oklahoma City, who’s a center fielder and a pitcher,” Turks owner and manager Bob Wease said. “[Jackson] can run, he can hit, he can do it all.”

Jackson went 2-for-5 with a double and a run Friday.

Wease said he could tell his team was determined after losing a close game Thursday night in Front Royal.

“I think the boys really wanted to play,” Wease said. “It’s a sign of character, it really is. Hopefully we’ll go on a little run here and win four or five in a row.”

Covington 010 000 000 – 1 2 0

Harrisonburg 000 050 00x – 5 13 0

Reed, Harris (5) and Longley; Granier and Dalrymple. W-Granier. L-Reed.