Wenger breaks Gap’s home run record

By Corine Gatti

Published: May 13, 2008

SWOOPE – Josh Wenger broke the Buffalo Gap High School record for most home runs recorded in a single season hitting his ninth of the year in Gap’s 10-0 win against Riverheads on Tuesday.
It took 15-years for the home run record to be broken but Wenger just shook it off as another hit, but did crack a smile.
“I just worked really hard, that’s all,” Wenger said. “He threw a lot of curve balls and I was patient and waited for my pitch.”
Bison coach Chad Coffey admitted that his slugger has the talent and has proved himself after playing four years at the varsity level.
“He just broke a 15–year-old record. It is a true testament of his baseball ability. There has been a lot of hitters to come through here,” Coffey said. “It just shows how much he has accomplished in his time here.”
Starting pitcher Jon Hawkins (7-0) threw 64 pitches, 44 were strikes and allowed two hits in four innings.
“I was able to keep the ball down low, that allowed a lot of grounders,” Hawkins said. “I was a little nervous because it was senior night and there was a lot of people here.”
Gap (14-3, 7-1 Shenandoah) is seeded second behind Luray. Luray clinched at least a tie in the Shenandoah District on Tuesday. Gap will host a doubleheader tonight against Stonewall Jackson.
“We are taking one game at a time,” Coffey said about the squad’s preparation. “Tonight we did all the little things right, we had no errors and Hawkins, our pitcher, hit his spot and kept them guessing.”
The bats came out for the Bison. The squad scored seven runs and added another three to end the game early due to the mercy rule. Travis Morris had a home run, Wenger was 3-for-4 and Daniel Pitsenbarger was 2-for-3 in the contest. Josh McDevitt came in for the Bison in the fourth-inning to preserve the shutout.
“When your pitching well, doing the little things right, and hitting well you stand the chance of winning,” Coffey said.
Gap is hoping that the momentum will continue.
“We just have to keep playing hard so we can get to Luray,” Wenger said.