Turks Take Game 1 Over Waynesboro

WP: Ziemba (4-1)- 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 3 K
LP: Braman (1-4)- 8 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
S: Brown (5)

HARRISONBURG, Va., July 29, 2015 – Despite being held scoreless in eight of nine innings, the Turks defeated the Waynesboro Generals, 4-2 at Veterans Memorial Park on Wednesday night.

The Turks put all of their scoring might into the fifth inning; luckily that inning would provide all the runs they needed. After the first out of the inning, Harrisonburg put the next two batters on with an error and a Trevor Denton. Both runners crossed the plate thanks to Kameron Esthay’s two-RBI double down the right field line, tying the game at two apiece. Tripp Shelton continued the trend with a double of his own to once again put two runners in scoring position and Shane Billings gave the Turks their first lead of the night with a two-RBI single right back up the middle.

With the win, the Turks take a 1-0 lead over the Generals in the three-game series to start the 2015 Valley League Baseball playoffs.

James Ziemba got the start on the mound for the Turks and did everything he could to give his team a chance. The Duke product battled for six innings in which he allowed one earned run (two total) on six hits and four walks while striking out three. Jared Datoc, Patrick Herbelin and Tyler Brown each pitched a scoreless inning in relief with Brown earning his fifth save of the season.

All but one Generals batter collected a hit on the night with none reaching multiple hits. Michael Brosseau reached base three times with a double and two walks to lead his team.

An error on Brosseau’s grounder to start the game gave the Generals a base runner in scoring position from the jump. A sacrifice bunt by Chris Cook moved him to third and an RBI groundout by Clayton Taylor gave the visiting team an early 1-0 lead.

That lead would double in the fourth thanks to a bases loaded walk drawn by Cook, forcing Jeremy Taylor home.

Vince Braman was excellent on the mound for Waynesboro in a complete game effort, showing weakness only in that breakthrough fifth inning for the Turks. The Murrieta, California native did not allow a walk while scattering five hits in eight innings.

Esthay was most impressive at the plate for the Turks, going 1-for-3 with a run scored and two runs batted in. Billings (1-for-4) also recorded two runs batted as he carried over his regular season success into the playoffs.

Game two of the series is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tomorrow night in Waynesboro as the Generals fight to keep their season alive. If a third game is necessary, it will take place at 7:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park on Friday night. As always, go Turks!