Rookies help Generals keep winning ways

Waynesboro got a solid pitching effort from Ricky Marshall and good rookie performances from Jose Rodriguez and AJ Kirby Jones as the Generals won 6-3 Sunday night at Fishburne Military School Park at Kate Collins Field.

Three of the first four Generals got hits in the first inning, including Kirby Jones, donning the General blue for the first time.

Alex McClure singled to right field and after another double increased Rob Kral’s season total, Tony Caldwell grounded out to third scoring McClure.

Kirby Jones followed up with a double, moving Kral to third.

Another eerily similar ground out to third by Ryan Mathews scored Kral.

The Generals got more support for Marshall in the third, sending seven batters to the plate.

Kirby Jones struck again with another double with two men on, scoring Kral and Caldwell on the play.

Two batters later, the other recently acquired General, Jose Rodriquez, singled in Kirby Jones.

Through three innings, the newly added Generals were 4-for-4 with 3 RBI and a run scored in support of Marshall.

“It felt really good,” Kirby Jones said. “I hit the ball well tonight and put some good swings on the ball.”

The heart of the order struck one more time against Rebel starter Ryan Stauffer.

Leadoff man McClure walked and in classic leadoff hitter fashion, stole second.

Following a ground out to second, third hitter Caldwell singled up the middle to get McClure home.

Kirby Jones walked but was stranded on base, one of four that Waynesboro stranded in the first four innings.

Marshall could not keep his shutout through the fifth when New Market struck for two runs to close the gap.

Richard Gonzalez led off with a single and after Marshall struck out Matt Leskiw, Jordan Pegram tripled home Gonzalez for the first Rebel run of the game.

A wild pitch from Marshall scored Pegram from third.

Marshall lasted six innings, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out a season high ten batters and walking four Rebels.

“I didn’t realize that he had that many [strikeouts],” Generals coach Andy Chalot said. “We got on him a little bit for a high pitch count after the third inning and told him to go after the hitters.”

The Rebels attacked with the same approach as in the fifth.

Gonzalez doubled, advanced to third, and scored on another wild pitch, this time from Andrew Saab.

Chris Enourato came in to pick up his league-leading fourth save after loading the bases in the ninth.

Kirby Jones ended the night going 2-for-3 with two RBI.

Rodriguez went 3-for-3 for a perfect average thus far.

“I told the coaches that I was going to retire now,” Rodriguez joked. “Of course I’m kidding though.”