06/30/2010 – Turks Tidbits
Miscues Cost TURKS in 7-1 loss to New Market
By Thomas Cornwell Boston College Intern
Harrisonburg—On paper Wednesday evening’s matchup between the Harrisonburg TURKS and the New Market Rebels should have been a foregone conclusion as the TURKS entered the night with a 13-7 record, placing them atop the VBL while the Rebels sat in last place, seven games behind the first place TURKS. Unfortunately for the TURKS, baseball games are not played on paper. New Market (7-14) was able take advantage of several Harrisonburg (13-8) miscues en route to a 7-1 road victory at Eagle Field.
The night began innocently enough as both New Market pitcher Jared Winder (Davis & Elkins) and TURKS pitcher Zach Brewster (Georgia Tech) were able to breeze though their first inning of work. The Rebels, however, struck in the top of the second inning. Following a Kenny Mickens (UNC-Pembroke) steal of second base with two outs, Rebels catcher Robert Lamas (Radford) singled to score Mickens.
The Rebels added to their slim lead in the top of the fourth inning on a Brewster wild pitch followed by a Scott Dalrymple (Oklahoma City) throwing error to third, allowing Dan Schafferman(Geroge Mason) to score from third.
A bright spot for the TURKS came in the bottom of fourth. Ignited by error, Shaun Cooper (Pima C.C.) was able to score on a throwing error as Cooper was attempting to steal third. The error allowed, Cooper to score, cutting the Rebels lead to 2-1. New Market would once again extend the lead in the top of the fifth inning as Jason Coker (UNC-Pembroke) scored from third when Brent Mikionis (VCU) grounded into a double play. The Rebels would add four more runs over the remaining innings, two each in the sixth and ninth innings, extending their lead to six runs, the game’s final margin.
The coolest evening of the season according to the mercury reading also proved to be the coldest one for the TURKS as a whole as the offense was never able to find its way and defensive miscues and walks cost the TURKS dearly. However, the season (only at its half-way point) goes on and tomorrow is another day with new opportunities as TURKS travel to Lexington for a date with the Rockbridge Rapids. And while the TURKS have now lost three out of their last four games, they remain atop the VBL, tied for first place with Haymarket.
On a lighter note, the TURKS return home Saturday night for a Fourth of July matchup with the Generals of Waynesboro at 7:30pm. What a better way to celebrate America’s independence than with its pastime baseball, especially if you’re a TURKS fan!!!