The Covington Lumberjacks (15-20) head into the Valley Baseball League (VBL) All-Star (ASG) break with a positive outlook following a game two 6-1 doubleheader victory over the Winchester Royals on Saturday.
The Lumberjacks heading into their second game of their Saturday doubleheader (the last home doubleheader of the season at Casey Field) having lost eight of their last nine games including riding a four-game losing streak.
With the VBL season scheduled to conclude on July 24th and the Lumberjacks trailing the South’s division leader Harrisonburg Turks by more than seven games and only a half game lead on the Staunton Braves for fourth place in the division, a win like the team put together in the second game of the doubleheader is what the team needed a lifter heading into a very short second half following the ASG.
In the second game of the doubleheader, the Lumberjacks grabbed a great quality start out of winning pitcher Aaron Potter (W, 3-3). Despite giving up six hits and walking five batters, Potter pitched five innings where he allowed just one run and struck out three. The win was Potter’s third on the season in what was his seventh start.
In just his second appearance on the season, Joseph Eischen (S, 1) picked up the save for the Lumberjacks following two shutout innings where he gave up jus one hit, while walking one and striking out three,
As the Lumberjacks finished with 11 hits in the win, the team had four players with two hit performances including Michael Pavelchak (2-for-3) who also had a game-high two RBI’s. Meanwhile, Carlos Castillo (2-for-4) slugged his first home run of the season in the sixth inning which put the team ahead 6-1.
Saturday, July 16, 2022
Royals at Lumberjacks – Game Two (DH)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
WR 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 7 2
CL 0 0 1 2 1 2 x 6 11 0
Royals Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Banjoff 4 2 0 0 0 0
Flores 2 0 0 0 2 0
Bryant 4 1 0 0 0 1
Long 4 0 0 0 0 1
Barraza 4 1 0 1 0 2
Nixon 2 2 1 0 2 0
Trimble 3 1 0 1 1 0
Vineyard 2 0 0 0 1 0
Bittner 3 0 0 0 0 2
TOTAL 28 7 1 1 6 6
Lumberjacks Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Castillo 4 2 1 1 0 0
Bogan 2 1 2 0 2 0
Ketzner 3 0 0 0 1 2
Pineyro 4 1 1 0 0 1
Stocum 3 2 0 1 0 0
Piulats 3 0 0 0 0 2
Arnold 2 1 1 2 1 0
Lohry 3 1 0 0 0 0
Pavelchak 3 2 2 1 0 0
TOTAL 27 11 5 6 4 5
Royals Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB S0
Davies (L) 3 5 2 1 1 4
Sephens 1.1 4 2 2 0 0
Jennings 0.2 0 0 0 0 1
Sloan 0.2 2 2 2 3 0
Keane 0.1 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 6 11 6 5 4 5
Lumberjacks Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Potter (W) 5 6 1 1 5 3
Elchen (S) 2 1 0 0 1 3
TOTAL 7 7 1 1 6 6
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Prior to the teams victory in game two of the doubleheader, game one last three innings longer as the game went 10 innings with the Royals prevailing 9-5.
With International Baseball rules (ITB) in play with a runner at second base to start an extra inning, the Royals retook the lead by scoring a run off a stolen third base from Dallen Leach (1-for-5) who was the runner at second base and came around to score on a throwing error by the Lumberjacks catcher. The Royals grabbed a 6-5 lead and added three more in the inning to regain control of the game.
The Lumberjacks had previously rallied down a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend the game, would not do so again the second time around as the four run deficit proved to be too much.
In the loss the Lumberjacks missed out on several opportunities to put runs on the scoreboard as the team left 10 stranded on base. Michael Piulats (3-for-4) led all Lumberjacks with a three-hit performance as he finished with one third of the teams hits. Piulats also had two RBI’s. The Lumberjacks trailed 3-0 early in the game before rallying to tie the game in the sixth inning on a two-out two-run double from Piulats.
Andrew Standen who came in relief of Landon Lucas, had his longest relief outing since June 5th against the TomSox where he pitched four relief innings. Against the Royals on Saturday, Standen pitched four innings where he gave up one run (unearned) on two hits, while walking one, and matching a season-high of five strikeouts which he had previously done two other times this season.
The Royals who just out-hit the Lumberjacks 10-9, were led by Corey Dowdell (3-for-5) and Nathan Barraza (3-for-5) whom each had three RBI’s in the win. Dowdell also recorded his second home run on the season.
Saturday, July 16, 2022
Royals at Lumberjacks – Game One (DH)
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
WR 01 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 5 9 10 1
CL 0 000 1 2 0 1 0 1 5 9 3
Royals Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Banjoff 3 0 1 0 1 0
Ryals 4 0 0 1 0 2
Marcy 3 0 1 1 2 0
Bryant 5 1 0 2 0 2
Dowdell 5 3 3 3 0 1
Barraza 5 3 3 0 0 1
Leach 5 1 0 1 0 0
Maldonado 2 0 0 0 0 0
Flores 1 0 1 1 0 0
TOTAL 38 10 8 9 4 7
Lumberjacks Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Ruiz 3 2 1 2 2 0
Sullivan 5 1 0 0 0 2
Cali 4 2 2 1 1 1
Clarkson 4 2 2 1 1 0
Cedarburg 4 0 0 0 0 1
Garrison 1 0 0 0 0 0
Vasquez 5 1 0 0 0 1
Caras 1 0 0 0 3 0
Jones 2 0 0 0 0 0
Montes 1 1 0 1 0 0
Useche 1 0 0 0 0 0
Howe 3 0 0 0 1 1
TOTAL 34 9 5 5 8 6
Royals Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB S0
Lyons 4.1 3 1 1 1 3
Barcena 0.2 0 0 0 1 1
Brodeur 1.1 2 2 1 0 0
Lyman 0.2 0 1 0 1 1
Huge (W) 2 4 1 0 1 2
TOTAL 9 9 5 2 4 7
Lumberjacks Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Lucas 4 4 3 2 1 0
Standen 4 2 1 0 1 5
Schneider (L) 1 4 5 3 1 2
TOTAL 9 10 9 5 3 7
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Coming off a loss just days prior to the Lumberjacks, the Waynesboro Generals bounced back with the teams sixth victory over the Lumberjacks on Friday following an 11-6 win.
In a game that saw a combined 22 hits, it was the Generals who were able to put together two big four-run scoring innings in the victory.
Trailing 1-0, the Generals grabbed a big four-run second inning highlighted by Joseph Sullivan III’s two-run home run to take a 4-1 lead.
Down three runs, the Lumberjacks put together a three-run fourth inning to tie the game. Nate Stocum (1-for-4) had an RBI single and a few batters later, Michael Pavelchak (2-for-4) added a game-tying two-run single.
The Lumberjacks three-run inning would be all for naught though as the Generals came back in the fifth inning with their second four-run inning to take an 8-4 lead led by Garrett Howe’s (1-for-5) two-run single. The Generals would add three more runs in the later innings, including Jalen Vasquez’s fifth home run. Vasquez is third in the VBL in home runs.
Carlos Pineyro (3-for-5) led all of the Lumberjacks with a three-hit game, including one RBI. The Lumberjacks out-hit the Generals 12-10. The team finished with three players with a multiple-hit performance. Pavelchak and Evan Wickeri (2-for-5) each had two hits in the loss. Pavelchak led the team with two RBI’s.
The Generals used four pitchers in the win with none pitching more than three innings. Jack Carver (ND) who started for the Lumberjacks took a no-decision after allowing four runs on four hits in three innings where also gave up four walks and struck out three batters. Garrett Bonnett (L, 1-1) who came in relief of Carver suffered his first loss of the season in his 11 appearance with the team. Bonnett gave up three runs in 1.1 innings despite not allowing a hit, but did walk three.
Friday, July 15, 2022
Generals at Lumberjacks
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
WG 0 4 0 04 0 0 1 2 11 10 1
CL 1 0 0 31 0 0 1 0 6 12 2
Generals Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Montes 5 2 1 2 0 0
Cali 4 2 3 1 1 0
Sullivan 3 1 2 1 1 1
Garrison 2 0 0 1 3 2
Ruiz 4 0 0 1 1 0
Clarkson 4 0 0 0 0 1
Ector 1 1 0 1 0 0
Vasquez 4 1 2 2 1 2
Borges 3 1 0 1 1 1
Luke 1 1 0 0 0 0
Howe 5 1 2 0 0 1
TOTAL 36 10 10 11 8 8
Lumberjacks Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Castillo 3 0 0 1 2 0
Wickeri 5 2 0 0 0 0
Pineyro 5 3 1 2 0 0
Ketzner 5 1 0 1 0 1
Stocum 4 1 1 1 0 0
Bogan 4 1 1 0 0 2
Arnold 1 1 0 1 3 0
Pavelchak 4 2 2 0 0 1
Lohry 3 1 1 0 1 0
TOTAL 34 12 6 6 6 4
Generals Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB S0
Ricko 3 3 4 4 3 1
Locke (W) 2 4 1 1 2 2
Price 3 4 1 1 1 1
Toro 1 1 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 9 12 6 6 6 4
Lumberjacks Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Carver 3 3 4 4 4 3
Bonnett (L) 1.1 0 3 3 3 0
Music 2.2 2 1 0 1 3
Lowder 2 5 3 3 0 2
TOTAL 9 10 11 10 8 8
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Last Thursday, Cooper Webb (L, 0-2) and the Lumberjacks unfortunately could not get enough run support as he and the team took the loss on road to the Braves by the final score of 4-3.
Webb for the second straight game pitched five innings (season-high) and allowed three four runs (three earned), while giving up just one walk and striking out two. It was the second game in a row that Webb had a quality start for the team.
The Lumberjacks did score three runs in the loss, but ended up stranding 10 runners on base. Carlos Pineyro (0-for-3) and Nate Stocum (0-for-4) provided the teams only RBI’s in the loss.
Facing one of the VBL’s best offensive players in Joe Delossantos (1-for-4), Webb and the Lumberjacks did what they could to slow down the VBL’s league leader in home runs and RBI’s. Delossantos finished the game with just one hit, but did add an RBI.
The Lumberjacks could not catch a break in this game. While run support was an issue, the Braves would answer the Lumberjacks offense each time around.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI from Pineyro, the Braves would answer in the bottom of the first inning with two runs to take a 2-1 lead on RBI singles from Felix Diaz (2-for-4) and Will Carlone (1-for-4).
In the fourth inning trailing by one run still, the Lumberjacks tied the game on a wild pitch that allowed Pineyro to score from third base.
Much like the bottom of the first inning, the Braves would answer the call in the bottom of the fourth with two runs to retake the lead at 4-2 on an RBI single from Jordan Peyton (1-for-3) and a sacrifice fly from David Pereira (0-for-3).
The Lumberjacks would get one of those runs back in next top half inning of the fifth via an RBI groundout by Stocum. Following the fifth inning the Lumberjacks would be held in check to just two hits the rest of the way. The teams best opportunity to tie or take the lead came in the eighth inning. Following back to back singles from Jordan Mccladdie (1-for-4) and Gavin Baird (1-for-2), Cade Dressler would settle down to get out of the jam by retiring the final two batters of the inning.
Nathaniel Gorczyca had his best performance out of the bullpen since June 10th. It was the first time in his last nine appearances that he did not allow a run. Gorczyca pitched three shutout innings and allowed just one hit against the Braves.
Thursday, July 14, 2022
Lumberjacks at Braves
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
CL 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 6 2
HT 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 x 4 9 2
Lumberjacks Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Pavelchak 4 2 0 1 1 1
Wickeri 4 1 0 0 1 0
Pineyro 3 0 1 1 2 1
Stocum 4 0 1 0 0 2
Piulats 3 0 0 0 1 1
Mccladdie 4 1 0 0 0 1
Baird 2 1 0 0 2 0
Bogan 4 0 0 0 0 1
Lohry 4 1 0 1 0 0
TOTAL 32 6 2 3 7 7
Braves Batting
Batter AB H RBI R W SO
Rodriguez 3 1 0 1 0 0
Delossantos 4 1 1 0 0 2
Pereira 3 0 1 0 0 1
Bennett 3 1 0 1 0 0
Diaz 4 2 1 0 0 0
Carlone 4 1 1 0 0 0
Painter 3 1 0 0 1 0
Goolsby 4 1 0 1 0 0
Peyton 3 1 0 1 0 0
TOTAL 31 9 4 4 1 3
Lumberjack Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB S0
Webb (L) 5 8 4 3 1 2
Gorczyca 3 1 0 0 0 1
TOTAL 8 9 4 3 1 3
Braves Pitching
Pitcher IP H R ER BB SO
Cook 4 2 2 1 3 1
Knowles (W) 3 2 1 0 3 4
Dressler 1 2 0 0 0 0
Neal (S) 1 0 0 0 1 2
TOTAL 9 6 3 1 7 7
