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Senators Drop Two to the Valley League |
Box Score Game 1
Box Score Game 2
July 15, 2008. Luray, Va. -- Matt Goulas reached for a pitch outside, and swung and missed. He smacked his bat, and walked back to the dugout, only able to shake his head. With Goulas' strikeout, the Senators had stranded their sixteenth runner of the doubleheader. The Senators offense had been shut down two games in a frustrating exhibition double-header against two teams from the Valley Baseball League. The Senators continued their string of leaving large numbers of runners on base, in only mustering 4 combined runs in the doubleheader. They are also in danger of losing their #1 national ranking.
The Senators dropped the first game 1-0 to the Waynesboro Generals, and the second game 12-4 to the Luray Wranglers. While the first game was a close match that could have easily swung in the Senators' favor, they appeared overmatched against the Wranglers.
“I'm more concerned about the first game,” said Burr. “It concerns me that we can't scrape a run across. We're struggling right now at the plate. It happens every summer; we just need to work through it. We'll get better from this.”
In Game 2, Senators starter Richard Cary had his second straight shaky outing. Cary and the other Senators pitchers were done in by the long ball. The Wranglers hit five home runs, which drove in eight of their nine runs. Cary allowed three of his four runs on home runs to Jeff Jefferson and Austin Markel. Cary only lasted three innings, before being lifted for long reliever Kyle Hald.
Hald didn't fare any better as he allowed four runs, all on home runs. A.J. Wirnsberger hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. C.J. Lauriella really broke the game open with a three-run home run in the fifth. Hald retired the first two batters in the inning, before allowing three straight hits culminating in Lauriella's home run.
Wranglers starter Donald Jordat blanked the Senators over his five innings of work. In the process, he struck out seven batters, while only allowing three hits.
The Senators finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning, when Goulas hit a pinch-hit, three-run home run to deep left field.
Chad Johnson came on in relief of Hald, and also had a tough outing. After pitching a perfect seventh inning, he allowed a solo home run to Jeff Jefferson, his second of the game, to start the eighth inning. Johnson allowed three more hits in the inning, and four runs.
Game 1 was dominated by pitching. Ryan Woolley and Eric Cantrell held the Generals scoreless through nine innings. Daniel Bradshaw, Brad Grove, and Jake Cowan combined to accomplish the same feat for the Generals. It wasn't until the 10 th inning that the Generals scored the game's first run, which proved to be decisive. Derek Hamblen's walk-off double in tenth inning gave the Generals the victory 1-0.
In a game this close, it was the small details that cost the Senators. With Eric Cantrell pitching in the 10 th , Generals catcher Austin Morgan reached on a fielding error by shortstop Seth Henry. The ball was a tough play for Henry, who has struggled with his defense in his first few games with the Senators. The next batter Greg Meleski then attempted to advance the runner with a bunt, but hit it foul twice. Luckily, he was able to ground weakly to the first baseman, which had the desired effect of advancing Morgan.
Senators manager Chris Burr then brought on closer Jimmy Duggan to try and get the Senators out of the inning. Duggan got off to a good start by striking out Chris Enourato. But, Hamblen was able to hammer a double to the wall in left center field to score Morgan with the winning run.
Woolley had his longest outing of the season, going five strong innings. Woolley has been a reliever in his career at the University of Georgia, but the Senators are working him into a starting role. Woolley has steadily increased the number of innings he has worked in his outings.
“I felt good out there. I was just trying to get ahead 0-1 on as many guys as I could,” said Woolley. “From there the [hitters] have to get into a more defensive approach, and then you can get the swinging at your pitches in your counts.”
Woolley allowed only three hits in his five innings of work. The only time the Generals seriously threatened was in the second inning, when they had runners at first and third with only one out. However, Woolley rallied to strike out Meleski, and force Enourato to ground into a fielder's choice.
Bradshaw only allowed five hits in his seven innings of work. He struck out six batters, and didn't allow a walk. The biggest threat he faced from the Senators was in the third inning, when the Senators had runners at second and third with one out. David Harris then grounded a ball down to third baseman Evan Webb, and Nick Boullosa attempted to score from third. Webb skipped his throw to catcher Austin Morgan, and it appeared Boullosa had snuck his foot under the plate. However, home plate umpire Tim O'Toole ruled that Morgan had blocked the plate and Boullosa was called out. Seth Henry then struck out to end the threat.
With the Senators' middle relievers struggling lately, manager Chris Burr brought on ace Eric Cantrell to bridge the gap between Woolley and closer Jimmy Duggan. Cantrell was dominant, allowing no hits in four and one third innings of work. Unfortunately, his stellar effort wasn't enough to secure a victory for the Senators.
The Senators loss is an ill omen for what is to come when the Senators go to Wichita, Kansas to play in the National Baseball Congress World Series at the end of their Clark-Griffith League regular season. There they will face the best collegiate summer teams from across the country.
“The second game [against the Wranglers] doesn't concern me as much because you're not going to get bombed out of the park. They're going to have legitimate fences [in Wichita]. But the first one is typical of [Wichita]. We're going to need to win those games.”
In preparation for the end of the year tournament, the Senators used the roster that they will most likely use in Wichita in the exhibition games. This roster includes a few new players who are currently playing for other teams in the CGL. The Senators welcomed into the mix Juan Mujica from the DC Grays, as well as Chris Haney and Robert Hays from the Beltway Blue Caps.
Andrew Struckmeyer
Vienna Senators