by Tucker Boggs
Sports Management intern
The season is fast approaching, Turks fans, and come May it will be time to hit the diamond. This season the Harrisonburg Turks have many fun-filled opportunities for the Harrisonburg community to experience and plenty of exciting baseball games scheduled.
The Turks are excited for the schedule to be released for the 2014 season. The Turks have 22 home games and 22 away games creating a total of 44 games for the season. The hectic season will start May 30th and continue until July 27th. Due to the departure of the Rockbridge Rapids from the VBL, there will be one team sitting out each night, leading to many more off nights for the Turks than in years past. There will be 11 home games scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The Turks are also excited to have a double header this season on July 3rd playing two seven inning games against Covington with the first game starting at 6:00 instead of the usual 7:30 with the second game beginning 20 minutes after its conclusion.
The Turks hope to repeat as the pennant winners this season after winning the 2013 pennant, but also have high expectations to return to the playoffs and battle for the VBL championship. Round one of the playoffs will be held July 28-30. Winners of round one move on to round two held on July 31-August 2. Then the final two teams meet for the Championship Series on August 3-5.
The All-Star game will be held on July 6th in Harrisonburg, which was designated the permanent location of VBL All-Star game last year. The All-Star game will bring together the best performers of the VBL. The gates will open around 3:00 to give fans the chance to come see all the pre-game festivities of the VBL All-Star game. Each team will have a batting practice session, starting with the North at 3:30. Next, fans can watch the best speedsters participate in the 60-yard dash starting at 4:50. Then the best power hitters of the VBL take the field to participate in the Home Run Derby at 5:20. The All-Star game introductions will start at 7:15 with the game starting at 7:30. The All-Star game and the pre-game festivities will offer the Harrisonburg community an exciting opportunity to come watch some great baseball.
For more information about the Turks visit harrisonburgturks.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @HbgTurksVBL and @TurksPAVoice.