Rapids deal a big blow to Generals

LEXINGTON — Coming into Monday night’s game, Waynesboro needed a win to keep its chances at catching second—place Covington for a berth in the playoffs, but Rockbridge squashed that Generals idea.

One run was all the Rapids needed to defeat the Generals as Waynesboro saw their playoff hopes all but disappear in the 1-0 loss to Rockbridge at Cap’n Dick Smith Field in a game that lasted only one hour and 54 minutes.

Rival Staunton kept the Generals’ chances at the No. 2 spot in the South Division alive on Monday. The Braves rallied in the ninth to beat Covington. If Waynesboro wins all of its remaining games, and Covington fails to record another W, the Generals and Lumberjacks will be tied for the final playoff spot in the division.

The Generals also have an outside shot at making the wildcard, if Harrisonburg and Fauquier both lost on Monday. Those scores were not reported by presstime.

A pitcher’s duel between the Generals’ Mike Hernandez and the Rapids’ Charles McCann was the storyline of the night’s game. Both Hernandez and McCann worked complete game efforts, but the Rapids were able to push across one-run on Hernandez in the first inning for the game’s lone run on an infield RBI single.

Hernandez went eight innings, striking out five Rockbridge hitters and giving up five hits in his complete-game loss.

“Mike pitched a heck a ballgame. There is a kid I feel bad for. He pitched a five hitter, gave up one run on an infield chopper,” said manager Derek McDaniel. “You can’t ask for anymore from your pitcher.”

The Rapids struck in the bottom of the first. After a leadoff single by Robbie Anston, a sacrifice bunt and a sac fly moved Anston to third with two outs. Sam Roberts ripped a single scoring Anston for the game’s first and only run.

The Generals had an opportunity to tie the game and even take the lead in the second inning. Tony Caldwell led off with a single to left field and Kovanda was hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second Sean Bukovich’s sacrifice bunt moved Caldwell and Kovanda to second and third.

Waynesboro was unable to get either runner home as Rhett Stafford grounded out to the third baseman for the second out and Ryan Matthews was retired for the inning ending third out.

After being hit by a pitch in the inning Kovanda’s bad luck continued for him in the fourth inning when he was struck in the head by a throw from right fielder Ryan Matthews. Kovanda left the game and was replaced by Tyler Biddix.

The Generals were held to just five hits in the ball game and were limited to their scoring chances as McCann gave the Generals very little to hit.

“We had chances to score and we didn’t. We have to keep playing hard every night out,” McDaniel said. “We have to finish what we started and we are going to keep playing hard and finish this thing out.”

The Generals had a chance to tie the game in the ninth with runners on first and second, but Bukovich flied out to center to end the contest.

The Generals will be on the road tonight against Staunton.