Written by Brian Krug
Turks Staff Writer
June 17, 2021

Coming off the off day the Turks (2-4) looked to break out of their funk and end their losing streak at 4 games. The Waynesboro Generals (4-6), who beat the Turks 3-2 on Tuesday, came into town riding high on a 2 game win streak.

Garrett Simpson (0-0, 2.25 ERA), who was on the bump for the manager Bob Weases’ Turks, got into some early trouble. After just 3 pitches the Generals had two hits and runners on 1st and 2nd for 3 hitter Alejandro Figueredo. Figueredo would line a ball into the left center gap for a double that would plate Will Prater from 2nd. Simpson would get 2 K’s and a fly out to end the inning and strand runners at 2nd and 3rd.

The Turks would waste no time to respond. After a scary HBP to the head on the 1st pitch of the inning, Marte would walk it off and the Turks were in business with a lead off runner on 1st. A 5 pitch walk would move Marte up to 2nd and a single to left from Hartigan would load the bases with 0 outs for Harrisonburg. After a Sweeney K, University of Miami product Michael Rosario, would hit a sac fly to left center tying the game, however Crispin would be caught trying to advance to 3rd ending the 1st.

Simpson would settle into the game and over the next 4 innings would only allow 3 base runners to reach. Then in the home half of the 3rd the Turks would add onto their lead. A 1 out walk from Peyton Crispin would get the rally started. After a 2 out bloop single to right from Sweeney, Michael Rosario came back up to the plate with runners on 1st and 2nd. Rosario would ground a ball right back up the middle scoring Crispin and giving the Turks the early lead.

After 4 stagnant innings in a row the Generals would answer back. An error would give Waynesboro a 1 out baserunner. After a stolen base and a single, Waynesboro would have runners on the corners, where Simpson would bounce a pick off attempt that would get past 1st baseman Jordan Sweeney and the run would come in from 3rd to tie the game.

Both teams would stay silent until the top of the 9th. Stephen Wilmer would lead off the inning with a double out to right center and the Generals were in business. A bouncing single through the left side of the infield had Waynesboro set up perfectly to take the lead. SS Jackson Ross, who was 1-3 on the day, would hit a fly ball to deep right scoring Wilmer from 3rd and giving Waynesboro the late 3-2 lead. Liam Dabagian, who replaced Simpson in the 7th, would escape the inning, preventing any further damage and the Turks were down 1 going into the final inning of play.

Elijah McCormack, who came into the game in the 6th, would set down 10 out of the final 11 Turk hitters to end the game. And after not recording a single hit in their final 6 innings, the Turks would lose their 5th straight game 3-2, falling to 2-5 and 4.5 GB of first place Charlottesville.

Harrisonburg (2-5) will be back in action tomorrow when they host the first place Charlottesville Tom Sox (8-2). First pitch at approximately 7:30 PM from Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Par