Walks Plague Turks as They Fall 10-0

Walks Plague Turks as They Fall 10-0

Written By: Adam Cherry
Intern, LaSalle

It was a muggy, humid night in New Market, Virginia as the Harrisonburg Turks were taking on the New Market Rebels for the second time this season. The mountains in the distance were covered in a thick haze as the game began. The Turks played the Rebels the first game of the season at Veterans Memorial Park. The Turks were able to come out with a victory in their last meeting. The Turks lead the series 1-0.

Manager Bob Wease sent out the lanky left-hander out of Duke, James Ziemba to start the game on the mound. The Rebels decided to start right-hander Jake Perkins from Ferrum College.

The big left-hander started the game off in the first inning by walking the lead off hitter after working a full count. Ziemba continued struggling throwing strikes with the Rebels short stop and walked him on five pitches. Darian Carpenter worked a full count from Ziemba. He was able to reach on a walk too. Ziemba was able to find his pitches with the next hitter and was able to strike him out. With the bases loaded and one out, Joe Chittester saw three pitches before lining a ball to left field scoring two, putting the Rebels up 2-0. Walker Haymaker worked his way to a full count before flying out to Thomas Spitz (Wingate) in right field for the second out. The fly ball to right field was able to move Carpenter to third base. Carpenter was able to score on a wild pitch from Ziemba. After the first inning, the Turks were down 3-0.

The Turks had a rally going in the second inning with two out that was cut short. Brandon Gold (Georgia Tech) was able to work a walk. Jace Whitley was he next hitter and he ripped a line drive into the gap. Gold came around third looking to score, but the Rebels were able to make a nice play to throw him out at home for the third out.

 Tommy Vitaletti led the Rebels with a single through the gap in between first and second to start the second inning. The next Rebel hitter turned to bunt for a sacrifice. Tray Roberts was able to beat the throw to first as Ziemba bobbled the ball before throwing it to first. The third hitter of the inning was Jake Kimble. Kimble was able to flare a single into right field, loading the bases. Ziemba was able to get the first out of the inning by getting Brandon Gum to fly out to center. Vitaletti was able to score from third from the play. With runners on first and second, Darian Carpenter dropped his back shoulder and hit a home run that hit the top of the left field fence and bounced over. After two innings the Turks were behind 7-0.

Darian Carpenter continued his hot hitting for the night as he ripped the first pitch he saw from the Turks reliever Tanner Shelton in the fourth inning for a double. Shelton was able to get the next hitter to ground out to the shortstop; advancing Carpenter to third. Carpenter was able to score on a wild pitch from Shelton, pushing the lead to 8-0. With one out in the inning, Joe Chittester continued his hot hitting by ripping another double down the left field line. Shelton was able to get the next hitter to fly out to center field for the second out of the inning. Shelton was then able to strike out the last hitter to end the inning.

The first hitter of the fifth inning was able to reach base by an error from Steven McLean (Baylor). Tray Roberts was able to rip the 3-1 pitch off the right field wall for a double. With runners on second and third, Jake Kimble ripped a line drive for a single scoring the runner from third. Shelton was able to get the next hitter to hit into a double play letting Roberts score from third. After five innings the Rebels increased their lead to 10-0.

Luke Czajkowski (Wake Forest) and Hunter King (UNCG) started the seventh inning off for the Turks by reaching base by walking. Both runners were able to advance to second and third respectful on a pass ball from the catch. The rally was cut short; as the Turks could not push any runs across.

Eric Kalbfleisch was the only highlight on the mound tonight for the Turks as he came in from left field and pitched two scoreless innings. The Turks surrendered nine free passes on the night. Jake Perkins was able to pitch seven innings of shutout baseball for a win. Joe Pokrentowski pitched two shutout innings to finish the game. The Turks fall to the Rebels with a final score of 10-0.