We had five games on the slate for Saturday evening… read on, because we had a forfeit, a complete game shutout, a mercy rule, an extra inning game, and a walk-off. What could we possibly be missing?

Results

  • Winchester over New Market, forfeit: The two teams met in Winchester, and even started the game, but New Market ran out of pitching in the third inning and forfeited the game. Both teams are now 4-4.
  • Harrisonburg 1, Charlottesville 0: No score into the bottom of the ninth, the Turks loaded the bases with one out and got an infield RBI single from Sam Schner to end it. The big story, of course, is Evan Smith, who threw an almost-unheard of complete game shutout for Harrisonburg. See below, of course. (Oh- the game was over in two hours and nine minutes, too!) Turks are now 4-2; Charlottesville falls to 3-4.
  • Woodstock 12, Front Royal 1 (8 innings): The Bandits led 5-1 after seven, but put up a 7-spot in the eighth to mercy rule the Cardinals. Woodstock starter Stephen Pena threw four no-hit innings, and then three Bandit relievers combined to allow only two singles the rest of the way. Bandits are 4-3; Cardinals are 3-4.
  • Strasburg 4, Purcellville 2 (10 innings): Ty Hooks hit a pinch-hit RBI single in the top of the tenth to send the Express home with a win, overcoming an excellent start by Purcellville’s Joe Vogatsky. Express is 5-1; Cannons fall to 2-6.
  • Staunton 5, Covington 4: Local legend Grant Painter hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to win this one for Staunton. Both teams are 3-3.

Hitter of the Day

We have our first repeat winner! Tonight’s hitter of the day is Woodstock’s Jose Hernandez, who also was HOD on Wednesday. Hernandez went 3-4, with three runs scored, one RBI, a walk, and a double. He is now hitting .464/.516/.607 in 28 at-bats, with six runs, a double, home run, and five RBIs. He leads the league in hitting.

Others of Note

  • Seaver King, Harrisonburg: 2-3, walk
  • RJ Stinson, Woodstock: 2-3, run, four RBIs, two walks, double (a very, very close second to his teammate for hitter of the day)
  • Colin Trembley, Woodstock: 2-5, two runs, three RBIs
  • Nate Slocum, Covington: 2-5, two RBIs
  • Luke Arnold, Covington: 0-1, run, RBI, four walks
  • Jacob Pajer, Covington: 2-4, two runs, RBI, walk, two doubles
  • Bryant Goolsby, Staunton: 3-4, three runs, RBI, home run, HBP (also in the running for HOD)
  • Ryan Peterson, Staunton: 3-5
  • Grant Painter, Staunton: 2-4, run, RBI, walk

Pitcher of the Day

I honestly thought these days were over, but our pitcher of the day, Harrisonburg’s Evan Smith (JMU), threw a complete game shutout tonight, allowing only two hits and two walks while striking out two. He earned the win and a game score of 82, which is the highest of the summer so far. In fact, through two appearances, Mr. Smith has not allowed an earned run at all- a span covering 12 innings now. (By the way, he did it in 98 pitches.)

Others of Note

  • Tom Vincent, Charlottesville: 4 2/3 shutout innings, two hits, four walks, two K’s
  • Jack Billings, Charlottesville: Two innings, no hits, no runs, two walks, four K’s
  • Stephen Pena, Woodstock: Four no-hit, shutout innings, two walks, three K’s (GS: 63)
  • Tyler Greenleaf, Front Royal: 2 2/3 innings, no hits, no runs, one walk, four K’s
  • Robert Kelley, Strasburg: Six innings, three hits, two runs, one walk, four K’s (GS: 61)
  • Joe Vogatsky, Purcellville: 5 2/3 innings, six hits, one unearned run, no walks, six K’s (GS: 61)
  • Miles Hellum, Staunton: Three innings, one hit, one unearned run, three walks, six K’s
  • Kyle Stively, Staunton: Two innings, one hit, no runs, two walks, one K, win

Tonight’s Games

We begin our “Sunday Doubleheader” series here in the Valley League: go out and see two games for the price of one! (Although both games are seven innings instead of nine.)

  • Waynesboro (Ward, Mortenson) at Woodstock (Wengert, Faivre), 3 PM and 5 PM
  • New Market (TBD, TBD) at Charlottesville (Mendoza, TBD), 4 PM and 6 PM
  • Staunton (Payne, TBD ) at Winchester (Cohen, Thompson), 5 PM and 7 PM
  • Covington (Guerrero, TBD) at Purcellville (Quinichett, Burke), 5 PM and 7 PM
  • Strasburg (Wakeman, Ouderkirk) at Harrisonburg (Farris, McClure), 5:30 PM and 7:30 PM