STAUNTON, VA – The new look Covington Lumberjacks in their new baby-blue baseball colors to match the new Alleghany Cougars sports teams, poured in the runs Thursday on the Valley Baseball League’s (VBL) 2023 Opening Day as the team scored 14 runs on the road in a 14-4 eight-inning victory over the Staunton Storm.
After two scoreless innings the game took a major turn as Covington put together a big seven-run third inning which was highlighted by David Bell’s two-out grand-slam home run. Logan Braunschweig had started things for the Lumberjacks following a two-run triple which had put the first runs across the scoreboard.
Staunton grabbed a run back in the bottom half of the third inning. The Lumberjacks were quick to get right back on the scoreboard in the fourth as they added three more runs behind a two-run single by Wesley Parker which gave the team a commanding 10-1 lead.
It was a big day at the plate for Covington as the team had an 11-hit day, which consisted of seven extra-base hits. Gabriel Miranda was the only batter in the lineup with multiple hits as he went 2-for-4 with two doubles. Bell who had the biggest hit of the game with his grand-slam during the seven-run third inning led all batters with four RBI’s.
The Lumberjacks had five players on the mound in the win. Right-handed pitcher Zaylen Perry picked up the win after tossing two perfect relief innings in the fifth and sixth, where he also struck out a pair. Kyle Morse started for the Lumberjacks and allowed one run on one hit, while walking two, and striking out three in 2.2 innings.
Offensively Staunton was led by Cooper Clapp, who led the team with two hits in four plate appearances and had an RBI. Daniel Brayton took the loss for the Braves after giving up seven runs (three earned) in 2.2 innings.
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
CLJ 0 0 7 3 0 1 1 2 X 14 11 2
STB 0 0 1 2 0 0 1 0 X 4 4 3
Lumberjacks Box Score
Batter AB R H RBI BB SO
Pavelchak, CF 5 1 1 0 0 1
Zavala, PH 0 0 0 0 1 0
Braunschweig, LF 4 2 1 3 1 1
Melo, 3B 4 2 1 0 0 0
Olivio, 3B 1 1 0 0 1 1
Parker, DH 4 1 1 2 0 1
Noriega, DH 1 0 1 1 0 0
Turner, SS 4 2 1 0 1 1
Miranda, 1B 4 1 2 2 1 0
Bell, C 4 2 1 4 1 1
Quevedo, 2B 2 1 1 0 2 1
Martinolich, 2B/PH 1 0 0 1 0 0
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TEAM 36 14 11 13 11 7
PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO
Morse 2.2 1 1 1 2 3
Sebren 1.1 2 2 1 3 2
Perry (W) 2 0 0 0 0 2
Villamizar 1 1 1 1 1 0
Garcia III 1 0 0 0 2 3
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TEAM 8 4 4 3 8 10
Braves Box Score
Batter AB R H RBI BB SO
Parliment, 2B 2 1 0 0 3 1
Clapp, SS 4 0 2 1 0 1
DeMucci, C 4 0 0 1 0 2
Nail, CF 4 0 0 0 0 0
Earley, 1B 3 1 0 0 1 1
Canterbury, RF 3 1 1 0 1 0
Gardner, 3B 4 0 1 1 0 2
Fasciglione, DH 3 1 0 0 1 2
Maciak, LF 2 0 0 0 2 1
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TEAM 29 4 4 3 8 10
PITCHING IP H R ER BB SO
Brayton (L) 2.2 3 7 3 4 2
McDade 0.1 3 3 3 1 0
Egan 1 1 0 0 0 0
Ecklar 1.1 2 1 1 2 0
Dowling 1.2 1 1 1 1 4
Martino 1 1 2 1 3 1
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TEAM 8 11 14 9 11 7
