The Shadow
As the Covington Lumberjacks saw what seemed like a sure run towards the Valley Baseball League playoffs, the team began to slip up losing six straight games before the team split a doubleheader with the Culpeper Cavaliers.
With a 19-21 record, Covington finished with a 4-2 record down the stretch, which included a forfeit by Charlottesville, to push their record to .500 to end the regular season and secured themselves a seventh seed in the postseason.
Sunday, July 23rd – Rebels 7, Lumberjacks 6
After snapping their six-game losing streak during a doubleheader with Culpeper, the Covington Lumberjacks backtracked once again with a home 7-6 home loss to the New Market Rebels.
This was a tough loss for Covington as New Market was well on the outside of the playoffs looking in and was one the Lumberjacks should have had at home.
The Rebels controlled the game early on with run support during a three-run third inning in which two runs were accounted for on defensive errors made by the Lumberjacks.
New Market would build a 6-1 lead by the fifth inning when Noah Lukas hit a two-run home run.
Covington did cut into the deficit and eventually found themselves down a run heading into the bottom of the ninth inning where they put the potential tying run on third base. Rancier Ventura hit a two-out triple, however Chenar Brown’s fly ball to right field wasn’t deep enough to send the home crowd cheering.
Michael Pavelchak led the Lumberjacks with two hits, while Brown, Christopher Alvarez, and Jonathan Vasallo each had RBI’s. Christopher Groenemans suffered the loss after giving up three runs (one earned) on five hits in three innings on the mound.
New Market 0 0 3 1 2 0 0 1 0 – 7 11 2
Covington 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 2 0 – 6 6 3
Monday, July 24th – Lumberjacks 10, Turks 8
In what was one of Covington’s best games of the season and arguably their biggest win, the Lumberjacks held off a Harrisonburg Turks team who held the VBL’s best record with a 10-8 victory.
Covington built up a 10-3 lead after seven innings behind a three-hit, five RBI performance from Chenar Brown. Michael Pavelchak and Christopher Watson each also had a pair of RBIs.
Brown had his biggest hit come in the top of the sixth inning where he connected on a three-run double which at the time put the Lumberjacks ahead 8-3.
Harrisonburg made some noise in the bottom of the eighth inning as they trailed by seven runs and pushed across five to cut the deficit down to two. Micah Morgan who had a seven-RBI performance for the Turks accounted for four of the teams runs in the inning as he hit a grand-slam home run.
The Turks had a golden opportunity to tie the game in the eighth inning following the grand-slam from Morgan. With just one out in the inning Kevin Rodriguez became the second relief pitcher of the inning for Covington and walked three of the first four batters he faced. For the second time in the inning the Turks found themselves with the bases loaded. With two outs, Rodriguez would settle down and struck out Joe Stella on three pitches to escape the jam.
Covington was victorious despite their pitching staff allowing 11 walks.
Covington 2 0 1 2 0 3 2 0 0 – 10 11 0
Harrisonburg 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 5 0 – 8 11 1
Tuesday, July 25th
Game One – Cannons 2, Lumberjacks 1 (7innings)
Game Two – Cannons 5, Lumberjacks 6 (7 innings)
In the Covington Lumberjacks seventh doubleheader of the season, the team split its matchup with the Purcellville Cannons.
Purcellville edged out a game one victory behind a dominant performance on the mound from Jaxon Dalena who threw a seven-inning complete-game. Dalena gave up one unearned run on three hits, while walking one, and struck out seven in his win.
The Cannons scored their only runs in the first inning on a two-run triple from Cullen Horowicz.
Hits came at a premium in the first game for Covington. Hector Candelas accounted for two of the teams three hits. Christopher Alvarez drove in the Lumberjacks only run during the third inning on a groundout.
On the mound, Brian Garmon II was solid and effective for Covington as he to nearly tossed a complete-game. Garmon II allowed just two runs on four hits in 6.1 innings.
Game One
Purcellville 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 2 5 1
Covington 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 1 3 1
The Lumberjacks held off the Cannons in a back-and-forth game two of the doubleheader with a 6-5 victory.
Covington was backed by a three-hit, three-RBI performance from Victor Sanchez, which included his fifth home run of the season. Sanchez jump started the Lumberjacks scoring in the first inning behind his two-run homer.
With the score tied 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Christopher Watson scored the go-ahead run for Covington on a defensive error committed by Purcellville.
Michael Pavelchak who went 1-for-3 at the plate with a run scored earned the victory for Covington. I’m just his third appearance on the mound this season, out of the bullpen, Pavelchak tossed 1.2 shutout innings where he gave up only one hit and struck out two.
Pavelchak earned the victory after retiring the side in order in the top of the seventh inning. He had come in relief of Christopher Groenemans who gave up five runs (three earned) in 5.1 innings.
Ronny Medina and Chenar Brown each had an RBI for Covington in their game two victory.
Game Two
Purcellville 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 – 5 7 1
Covington 2 0 1 0 2 1 x – 6 11 1
