Generals win season opener

By Robert Sisk

Published: June 1, 2008

Waynesboro started its defense of the Valley League championship on the right foot, putting up a 13-run first inning against an undermanned Harrisonburg squad in the Generals’ season-opener. Waynesboro scored three more runs in the game to earn a 16-4 opening night win at Kate Collins Field.
After the Generals sat the Turks down in order in the top of the first, Waynesboro leadoff man Ryan Danbury hit a line-drive single on the second pitch to put Waynesboro on the bases for the first time of the season.
Three walks and a hit batter later by Turk starter Tim Wheeler, the Generals were up 2-0, and the bleeding didn’t stop. Three more runs would cross the plate under Wheeler’s watch before Harrisonburg coach Bob Wease gave the right-hander the hook, bringing in Jon Vallen. The righty from Mount Jackson was unable to give the Turks any life.
Waynesboro No. 9 batter Greg Meleski hit a slow roller to Turk second baseman Aaron Read, scoring a runner from third.
Danbury then got a chance in the box again and reached first on a fielder’s choice. Vallen followed in Wheeler’s footsteps, hitting Colin Ziegel and Grant Buckner to load the bases and then walking Evan Webb to give up a run.
After a two-run Chris Enourato single, Jack Heatley hit a three-run home run.
Waynesboro finished the inning up 13-0 and allowed the Turks to score just four runs in the final eight innings.
Evan Webb hit a solo blast for the Generals in the fifth.
Most of the Turks’ roster is still playing college ball during the NCAA Regionals.
Waynesboro will begin a two-game road trip today, traveling to Woodstock tonight and to Front Royal on Tuesday before returning home on Wednesday to take on Luray in a rematch of last year’s championship series.