Playoffs start to take shape after Night 49 Around The Valley
NEW MARKET.....000...030...010-4/6/3
LURAY.................220...010...00X-5/9/0
Attn:445
Time: 2:47
Once again the Battle for the Mountain lived up to its hype( good thing because I am one of the ones that does the hyping) as the Luray Wranglers hung on to a 5-4 lead late in the game to clinch the season series 3 games to 1.
All three of the Wranglers wins in the series came by 1 run and came with a fair amount of drama down the stretch. The first win at Bulldog Field came in the 11TH inning and the game Friday night appeared to be heading down a similar path. Jeff Jefferson (Liberty U.) hit a two run home run off of the scoreboard to put the Wranglers up 2-0 behind the pitching of Alex Koronis (Miamai).
The Wranglers added two more runs to the lead to make it 4-0 until Brandon Kirsch (NW Missouri State) connected for a 3-run homer to pull the Rebels to within 4-3 in the fifth inning.
The two bullpens took over at that point to limit each team to just 1 more run over the final four innings. Koronis finished the night with 5.2 innings, 3 earned runs and 8 strike outs to earn the victory for the home team.
New Market pulled to within 5-4 in the top of the eighth and had the tying runner on third base but could not score the equalizer. The game was full of outstanding defensive plays on both sides including the Rebels nailing pinch runner Josh Wright trying to steal home on the back half of a double steal.
The relievers that held the Wranglers to just 1 run from the third inning until the end of the game included Robert Seymour (Penn), Mike Hanley (Keystone) and Daniel Gentzler (Maryland). The Wrangler hurlers that followed Koronis to the hill included Matt Boylan (Brown), Jordan Yost (WVU), Alex Wiesner (Wake Forrest) and Kyle Cichy (Va. Tech).
A great battle in front of a great crowd on both sides of the diamond, sounds a little like what I was talking about roughly 6-8 hours ago.
Notes and Thoughts- It was great to see Mr. Tony Mowat make the trek across the mountain with the Rebels. Also enjoyed looking up and seeing four ATV-60 Loopsters in Charlie Dodge and Melissa Dodge sitting with Buck and Jacob Smith on the 3RD base side.
We had another strong night of corralling scores from Around the Valley with help from Teresa Wease (Harrisonburg @ Woodstock), Bruce Alger (shared the Winchester update), Generals Sign Guy Mike (Covington @ Waynsboro) and Buck found help with Staunton @ Haymarket.
I will try to do my best to keep the scores flowing the best I can over the final week of the regular season. What were those scores you ask?
HARRISONBURG-8 @ WOODSTOCK-3
The two teams entered the night tied for the eighth and final playoff spot and now the Turks have a one game lead over the River Bandits. Eric Thomas (B-Cookman) leveled his record for the season to 2-2 and Harrisonburg upped its mark to 14-21. Harrisonburg led 5-2 after six innings and managed to break the game open with 3 late runs.
@WAYNESBORO-5, COVINGTON - 2
This game stayed close through out and with the victory Waynesboro (25-11) pulls out to a 5 game lead over the second place Lumberjacks (20-16). Both teams have 8 games remaining, including games the day after the scheduled end of the regular season. Waynesboro jumped out to a 3-1 lead after four and the pen did the job for skipper Lawrence Nesselrodt. The win also keeps the Generals within 1/2 game of Luray in the race for best record overall.
FAUQUIER-5 @ WINCHESTER-2
This score was given to us by Bruce Alger earlier and now with a quick visit to the Winchester web page I can tell you how it developed. The Gators scored four UN-earned runs in the third inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back. The victory pushes Fauquier to a lead of 2&1/2 games over Winchester for the number two spot in the North behind Luray.
STAUNTON-14 @ HAYMARKET-11
The fifth and final game of the night had Staunton traveling to Haymarket. The last update we had showed the Braves leading big in the ninth inning- if I come up with a final before heading out I will update this for all of you. Staunton won in a slugfest by a final score of 14-11. Thanks to Kevin back at the VBL office
Now that is 12:36 AM- We can start talking about Day 50 of Around The Valley in 60 Days!
EVERY FIFTH DAY- Greg Maddux was pitching for the Padres at St.Louis and I was trying my best to follow the SD-STL game while working the PA for the Rebels-Wranglers contest. I received help from Mike Zucconi who has been filling in for Seth while Seth was out in San Diego.
Maddux was given very rare run support tonight and actually had a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning until after two were out my guy gave up back to back base hits and then a 3 Run HR to Ludwick. The score was then tied 6-6 and Maddux didn't come back out for the 5TH inning.
The team saved me some later frustration by taking a 7-6 lead and then blowing a win for some other pitcher. I think Greg would tell tell you he had a BLOWN win but we will try it again in 5 days.
LURAY.................220...010...00X-5/9/0
Attn:445
Time: 2:47
Once again the Battle for the Mountain lived up to its hype( good thing because I am one of the ones that does the hyping) as the Luray Wranglers hung on to a 5-4 lead late in the game to clinch the season series 3 games to 1.
All three of the Wranglers wins in the series came by 1 run and came with a fair amount of drama down the stretch. The first win at Bulldog Field came in the 11TH inning and the game Friday night appeared to be heading down a similar path. Jeff Jefferson (Liberty U.) hit a two run home run off of the scoreboard to put the Wranglers up 2-0 behind the pitching of Alex Koronis (Miamai).
The Wranglers added two more runs to the lead to make it 4-0 until Brandon Kirsch (NW Missouri State) connected for a 3-run homer to pull the Rebels to within 4-3 in the fifth inning.
The two bullpens took over at that point to limit each team to just 1 more run over the final four innings. Koronis finished the night with 5.2 innings, 3 earned runs and 8 strike outs to earn the victory for the home team.
New Market pulled to within 5-4 in the top of the eighth and had the tying runner on third base but could not score the equalizer. The game was full of outstanding defensive plays on both sides including the Rebels nailing pinch runner Josh Wright trying to steal home on the back half of a double steal.
The relievers that held the Wranglers to just 1 run from the third inning until the end of the game included Robert Seymour (Penn), Mike Hanley (Keystone) and Daniel Gentzler (Maryland). The Wrangler hurlers that followed Koronis to the hill included Matt Boylan (Brown), Jordan Yost (WVU), Alex Wiesner (Wake Forrest) and Kyle Cichy (Va. Tech).
A great battle in front of a great crowd on both sides of the diamond, sounds a little like what I was talking about roughly 6-8 hours ago.
Notes and Thoughts- It was great to see Mr. Tony Mowat make the trek across the mountain with the Rebels. Also enjoyed looking up and seeing four ATV-60 Loopsters in Charlie Dodge and Melissa Dodge sitting with Buck and Jacob Smith on the 3RD base side.
We had another strong night of corralling scores from Around the Valley with help from Teresa Wease (Harrisonburg @ Woodstock), Bruce Alger (shared the Winchester update), Generals Sign Guy Mike (Covington @ Waynsboro) and Buck found help with Staunton @ Haymarket.
I will try to do my best to keep the scores flowing the best I can over the final week of the regular season. What were those scores you ask?
HARRISONBURG-8 @ WOODSTOCK-3
The two teams entered the night tied for the eighth and final playoff spot and now the Turks have a one game lead over the River Bandits. Eric Thomas (B-Cookman) leveled his record for the season to 2-2 and Harrisonburg upped its mark to 14-21. Harrisonburg led 5-2 after six innings and managed to break the game open with 3 late runs.
@WAYNESBORO-5, COVINGTON - 2
This game stayed close through out and with the victory Waynesboro (25-11) pulls out to a 5 game lead over the second place Lumberjacks (20-16). Both teams have 8 games remaining, including games the day after the scheduled end of the regular season. Waynesboro jumped out to a 3-1 lead after four and the pen did the job for skipper Lawrence Nesselrodt. The win also keeps the Generals within 1/2 game of Luray in the race for best record overall.
FAUQUIER-5 @ WINCHESTER-2
This score was given to us by Bruce Alger earlier and now with a quick visit to the Winchester web page I can tell you how it developed. The Gators scored four UN-earned runs in the third inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back. The victory pushes Fauquier to a lead of 2&1/2 games over Winchester for the number two spot in the North behind Luray.
STAUNTON-14 @ HAYMARKET-11
The fifth and final game of the night had Staunton traveling to Haymarket. The last update we had showed the Braves leading big in the ninth inning- if I come up with a final before heading out I will update this for all of you. Staunton won in a slugfest by a final score of 14-11. Thanks to Kevin back at the VBL office
Now that is 12:36 AM- We can start talking about Day 50 of Around The Valley in 60 Days!
EVERY FIFTH DAY- Greg Maddux was pitching for the Padres at St.Louis and I was trying my best to follow the SD-STL game while working the PA for the Rebels-Wranglers contest. I received help from Mike Zucconi who has been filling in for Seth while Seth was out in San Diego.
Maddux was given very rare run support tonight and actually had a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning until after two were out my guy gave up back to back base hits and then a 3 Run HR to Ludwick. The score was then tied 6-6 and Maddux didn't come back out for the 5TH inning.
The team saved me some later frustration by taking a 7-6 lead and then blowing a win for some other pitcher. I think Greg would tell tell you he had a BLOWN win but we will try it again in 5 days.
