All-Stars

By Corine Gatti

Published: July 5, 2008

Launching into the second chapter of the season, several Waynesboro players will kick it off at the Valley League Baseball All-Star game.
The North and South both will grind it out tonight at Casey Field in Covington at 7:30 p.m.  Waynesboro has a division best seven players on the VLB South’s 26-man roster.
Brandon Sizemore was chosen to start tonight but suffered a bruised heel over the weekend. The junior was ranked first on the squad batting .368 in 76 at-bats and compiled an overall slugging percentage of .684 with 17 RBI.
He had a lot to say about this year’s team and it’s arrival to first place in the division. He said the amount of players chosen to take the field tonight proves it.
“To have so many guys to get selected to the all-star game shows how great our team is,” the Waynesboro second baseman said. “It really goes to show how talented our roster is.”
At the start of the season the lineup went through a plethora of changes. Like many summer leagues, Waynesboro was not excempt from the injuries or players bowing out at the last minute. Waynesboro coach Lawrence Nesselrodt was pleased that his squad surged over the obstacles to produce a crop of all-stars.
“That’s expected in this league,” Nesselrodt said. “We went through a lot before the season even started. With injuries and having to use different catchers, infielders and pitchers, we had to constantly adjust our roster.”
During the changes, the Generals stormed the south taking first place.
“It was about 14 players that changed on the roster for whatever reason, but I think that we are where we need to be,” Nesselrodt said.
Nesselrodt will manage the game tonight and will watch some of his players strut their stuff again.
Getting the start on the mound will be Waynesboro southpaw Adam Liberatore (4-0). With a 0.73 ERA in 37.0 innings of work. Another hurler that will take on the North will be undefeated pitcher Andy Altemus (4-0). The sophomore from Potomac State has an ERA of 2.51 in 32.1 innings. Pitcher Jared Dobbs (4-1) will share the spotlight with his 1.06 ERA.
Third baseman Evan Webb leads the team with 22 RBI and is second behind Sizemore with his lumber. Freshman outfielder Mark Dvoroznak will join his teammates on the roster along with shortstop Jacke Healey.
Before the game, sluggers will battle out for top-dog at the home run derby starting at 4:30p.m.
The main event kicks off at 7:30 p.m.