The Shadow
It had been a rough stretch for the Covington Lumberjacks (7-10) here recently after the team dropped 10 of their previous 12 games, including at one point a six-game losing streak.
The Lumberjacks entered their game Friday with the Staunton Braves with a home record of 1-6.
After Saturday night, the Lumberjacks now have three home wins following back to back home victories over the Braves on Friday and the Charlottesville TomSox on Saturday.
The two straight wins for the Lumberjacks is the teams second longest win streak of the season. The team’s longest win streak came at the beginning of the season when the team won their first three games.
On Saturday evening following the teams 4-2 victory over the Braves the night before, the Lumberjacks looked as if they would fall back into the losing column after the TomSox put together a four-run fourth inning to put the team ahead 5-1.
Trailing by four runs entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lumberjacks bats woke up and put the team ahead for the first time following a five-run inning to take a 6-5 lead.
Leading the way in the five-run inning for the Lumberjacks were; Will Hudler (1-for-2), Michael Pavelchak (1-for-4), Bradke Lohry (1-for-4), Nate Stocum (2-for-4), and John Schroeder, (1-for-5) whom all collected an RBI in the inning. Schroeder’s RBI, his second of the season, put the Lumberjacks ahead 6-5.
The lead for the Lumberjacks would be short-lived as the TomSox tied the game in the top of the seventh inning.
The game would wind up going into extra innings.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Carlos Castillo, a pinch runner, stole third base and on a throwing error by the catcher, allowed Castillo to come home for the winning run.
The Lumberjacks used four pitchers to pick up the win. Carson Lowder (1-1), picked up the win following two scoreless innings pitched where he allowed just one walk and struck out one. Lowder improved to 1-1 on the season.
The offense came collectively as a group in the win over the TomSox. While the team had nine hits, the Lumberjacks had just two players with a multiple-hit performance, Stocum, and Gavin Baird (2-for-5).
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Saturday, June 25
TomSox at Lumberjacks
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
CT 0 1 0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 6 10 3
CL 0 0 1 0 0 5 00 0 1 7 9 1
TomSox Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Yunger 6 1 0 0 0 2
Abrams 4 1 1 1 1 1
Amiss 4 1 0 0 1 2
C Wagner 4 2 1 0 0 0
L Wagner 4 1 1 1 1 0
Martin 5 1 0 1 0 2
Prevesk 5 1 0 1 0 2
Ericsson 1 0 0 1 3 0
Edwards 4 2 3 1 1 1
TOTAL 37 10 6 6 7 10
Lumberjacks Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Lohry 4 1 1 1 1 0
Stocum 4 2 1 2 1 1
Schroeder 5 1 1 0 0 2
Rodriguez 5 0 0 0 0 3
Baird 5 2 1 1 0 0
Castillo 0 0 0 1 0 0
Piulats 3 0 0 1 2 1
Wickeri 3 1 0 0 1 0
Hudler 2 1 1 0 2 0
Pacelchak 4 1 1 1 0 0
TOTAL 35 9 6 7 7 7
TomSox Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB S0
Jameson 4 3 1 1 5 3
Eggert 1.2 3 4 4 1 0
Lunsford 1.2 3 1 1 0 1
Billings 1.2 0 0 0 0 3
McLoughlin (L) 0 0 1 0 1 0
TOTAL 9 9 7 6 7 7
Lumberjacks Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB S0
Lucas 3.1 6 5 4 3 3
Carver 2.2 1 0 0 1 4
Gorczyca 2 3 1 1 2 2
Lowder (W) 2 0 0 0 1 1
TOTAL 10 10 6 5 7 10
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In Friday’s game, the Braves jumped out in front in the first inning with a two-run inning.
Based on at the time the recent sliding of the Lumberjacks win/loss column, all signs were pointing well following the first inning for the Braves.
However, the Braves two-run first inning would be the team’s only runs scored as pitching of the Lumberjacks held the Braves scoreless over the final eight innings.
The Braves two run lead, was also short-lived.
The Lumberjacks in the bottom of the first inning tied the game with a two-run inning of their own. Baird (1-for-4) and Stocum (1-for-3), each provided RBI’s in the inning. Stocum put the Lumberjacks out in front, following a two-out RBI double.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lumberjacks grabbed the lead following a Cooper George (0-for-2) sacrifice fly that scored Lohry (2-for-3) from third base. Lohry had previously led the inning off with a single.
The Lumberjacks would take a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning after Evan Wickeri (1-for-3) scored from third base following a wild pitch. Wickeri set himself up at third base after leading the inning off with a single.
Trailing by two runs in the top of the ninth inning, the Braves would put the potential tying run to the plate following a two-out single from Ryan Peterson (1-for-1). Andrew Standen (S) would get Jordan Peyton (1-for-3) to ground out to end the game and any potential rally for the Braves.
Standen, who made his fifth appearance of the season, picked up his first save of the year after giving up just one hit over three innings of relief pitching. Trevor Wall (1-0) picked up the win after one scoreless relief inning coming in the sixth. Wall came in relief of Richard Long who started for the Lumberjacks. Long allowed two runs (both unearned) on four hits and struck out four in five innings.
Each team collected six hits. Lohry led the Lumberjacks with two hits, while the offense finished with four players having an RBI each; Baird, George, Stocum, and Castillo.
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Friday, June 24
Braves at Lumberjacks
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
SB 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 6 0
CL 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 x 4 6 2
Braves Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Robertson 4 1 0 1 0 0
Snider 4 1 0 0 0 1
Delossantos 4 0 0 0 0 0
Bennett 4 2 0 1 0 1
Rodriguez 4 0 0 0 0 1
Price 4 0 0 0 0 1
Goolsby 4 0 0 0 0 3
Peterson 1 1 0 0 0 0
Peyton 3 1 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 34 6 0 2 1 8
Lumberjacks Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Lohry 3 2 0 2 1 0
Baird 4 1 1 0 0 1
Ketzner 4 1 0 0 0 2
George 2 0 1 2 1 0
Stocum 3 1 1 0 0 1
Wickeri 3 1 0 1 0 0
Arnold 3 0 0 0 0 0
Castillo 2 0 0 1 0 0
Pavelchak 3 0 0 0 0 1
TOTAL 27 6 4 4 2 5
Braves Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB S0
Cook 1 3 2 2 1 1
Brizendine 2 0 0 0 0 0
Helton (L) 3.2 3 2 2 0 1
Dressler 1.1 0 0 0 1 3
TOTAL 8 6 4 4 2 5
Lumberjacks Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Long 5 4 2 0 0 4
Wall (W) 1 1 0 0 0 0
Stranden (C) 3 1 0 0 1 4
TOTAL 9 6 2 0 1 8
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The Lumberjacks are on the diamond this afternoon for a doubleheader on the road against the Woodstock River Bandits with game one starting at 1:00 p.m.
The team has a scheduled day off on Monday, but will be back on the field on Tuesday for an away doubleheader against the Purcellville Cannons.
The Lumberjacks won’t be back home at Casey Field until Sunday, July 3rd when the team hosts the New Market Rebels for a doubleheader with game one starting at 5:00 p.m. and game two to follow.
