The Shadow
CULPEPER, Va. (VR) – The Covington Lumberjacks broke the game open with an eight-run fourth inning and cruised to an 11-1 Valley League victory over the Culpeper Cavaliers Friday night.
Covington scored in the opening inning before exploding for eight runs in the fourth and adding two more in the fifth to improve its offensive output. The Lumberjacks finished with 11 runs on eight hits while taking advantage of three Culpeper errors.
Darrius Brown led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Brown opened the scoring in the first inning with a solo home run to left field.
The Lumberjacks’ decisive fourth inning featured six runs batted in and capitalized on timely hitting and Cavalier mistakes. Peter Crespo started the rally with a two-run single to center that scored Emory Stephens and Jose Alfonso for a 3-0 lead.
Brown was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to force home another run before Zach Doorlag drew an RBI walk to make it 5-0. Kelven Perera followed with a two-run single to center, extending the advantage to 7-0. Covington capped the inning when Thomas Fratto reached on a center field error, allowing two unearned runs to score for a commanding 9-0 lead.
The Lumberjacks added two more unearned runs in the fifth. Isaiah Robledo reached on a shortstop error that brought home Crespo before Doorlag delivered an RBI single to left, scoring Robledo for the final Covington run.
Brown finished with two RBIs, while Doorlag, Perera and Crespo each drove in two runs. Doorlag reached base three times with a hit and two walks. Crespo scored twice and added two RBIs, while Robledo also crossed the plate twice. Alfonso doubled and scored, and Carroll reached base twice on walks while scoring once.
On the mound, Andy Hernandez earned the win in his first decision of the season. Hernandez worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits while striking out seven and walking three. He threw 95 pitches and hit two batters. Eli Porter closed out the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing one hit while striking out two.
Culpeper scored its lone run in the fifth inning on Ty Powell’s RBI groundout. Covington finished with 11 runs, eight hits and two errors, while Culpeper was held to one run on six hits with three errors. The Lumberjacks also turned a double play defensively.
