Turks trounce Rebels Early, Win 10-7
W: Connor Kaden (1-0)
L: Reiss Stanley (1-1)
Thanks in part to a 5-run second inning effort, the Turks jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished it in front of a packed Massanutten Regional Library Summer Reading Program FREE FRIDAY crowd, earning their first win of the season against New Market 10-7.
New Market scored one run in the top of the first, but it was all Turks all night after that. Leading off in the second frame, third baseman Joe Napolitano singled into the gap, and left fielder Eric Kalbfleisch took a walk. Then, in one of the night’s many highlight reel plays, right fielder John Welborn laid a picture-perfect punt down the third base line that loaded the bases.
When catcher Connor Lynch doubled down the left field line, the rout was on.
Harrisonburg (5-4) finished with five runs off of five hits in the second inning, and scored at least one run in the third, fourth and fifth inning. Every starter finished with either a hit or a run scored, and six of the nine starters finished with one of each.
Even amongst the collective fireworks, second baseman Andy Perez stood out. Perez finished 2 of 4 with 3 RBI. He’s batting .275 on the season thus far; fellow Turks second baseman Thomas Smith is batting .385.
Trailing 9-1 entering the eighth inning, New Market (6-5) staged a significant rally late. The Rebels scored 3 runs in each of the final two frames to make the game close, but the Turks never felt threatened.
Reiss Stanley takes the loss for New Market. Stanley, now 1-1, was credited for all 5 of the earned runs in the second inning.
Connor Kaden, who allowed one run in six full innings and struck out nine Rebels, takes the win. It is his first of the summer.
Harrisonburg will be at home again on Saturday evening, taking on the Rockbridge Rapids for the third time this season. The Rapids are 2-0 against the Turks this season so far.