Photo Credit: Jack Fitzpatrick

New Market advanced to the championship while Charlottesville and Waynesboro, still over a series behind, will play tomorrow night for a spot in the South finals.

NEW MARKET 5, WINCHESTER 3

Box Score

BY JACK MARGAROS

The New Market Rebels advanced to the Valley Baseball League Championship Series on Wednesday with a victory over the Winchester Royals, 5-3. This marks the Rebels' 11th straight victory, dating back to July 20.

After a near two hour rain delay midway through the second inning, New Market plated the first run of the game in the fifth. Marc Coffers began the frame by drawing a walk, and then stole second with two outs.

Henry Moore dropped a soft single to right field to drive in Coffers for New Market’s first hit of the game. Royals starter Ruben Ramirez recorded the final out, then was replaced by James Grant. Ramirez allowed just one run on one hit while issuing four walks and striking out six in the loss.

Chase Sudduth greeted Grant out of the bullpen with a single to start the sixth. Oraj Anu followed with a towering two-run home run over the 365 sign in right center field. With Andrew Kasiski on third, Coffers put down a safety squeeze to drive his teammate in and give New Market a 4-0 lead.

Winchester answered in the bottom half of the frame with two runs. Aaron Palensky scored off an error from Sudduth and Chris Salvey scored off a wild pitch later in the inning to cut the deficit in half, 4-2.

New Market received an insurance run in the seventh by way of error from catcher Sean Vasquez. The Royals got the run back, however, with a sacrifice fly from Masen Prososki.

Winchester loaded the bases in the eighth, but were unable to capitalize, as Johnny Butler hit a sharp ground ball to first to end the inning.

Ryan Andrzejczyk earned the win for New Market, pitching five shutout innings and allowing just three hits. Jake Posey entered after Grant for the Royals and pitched 3.1 innings, allowing just one unearned run while striking out eight. Jacinto Arredondo earned the save with 1.2 innings out of the bullpen.

New Market will get a couple days to rest, as the South side of the bracket has yet to finish the quarterfinals. Covington awaits the winner of Charlottesville versus Waynesboro. The Rebels will play the winner of the South finals.

WAYNESBORO 12, CHARLOTTESVILLE 7

Box Score

BY NATALIE RETALEATO

The Waynesboro Generals won game two of their series 12-7 against the Charlottesville Tom Sox, forcing a game three that will place tomorrow, August 2nd.

The Generals wasted no time, scoring early in the first. Andrew Orzel singled to right field and advanced to second on a Tom Sox error while Marcus Ragan and Tyler Bielamowicz were sent home.

The Tom Sox responded big in the top of the third, with back to back home runs from Zac Ching (bringing in Nickolas Oar and Max Bazin), and Patrick McColl, giving them a 4-2 lead.

The Generals tied it up on a two-RBI single from Bo Seccombe, followed by three more runs in the bottom of the third.

In the top of the sixth, the Tom Sox were able to load the bases with no outs. The Generals denied them any runs after a strikeout from Hunter Shuff and a double play. They then added three more runs themselves, giving Waynesboro a 10-6 lead.

Alex Mardiney earned an RBI from his single to center field, which allowed Oar to score for the Tom Sox. But the Generals continued to extend their lead in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs. The Tom Sox were unable to rally in the ninth, ending the game with a final score of 12-7 Generals.