On cusp of win, Generals watch Staunton celebrate

STAUNTON—Chris Enourato came in for the Generals to pick up the save, but with a man on second served up a two-run blast to Todd Brazeal in Staunton’s 10-9 win over Waynesboro Tuesday night.

Staunton starter Eric Berkowitz started slow but seemed to increase velocity as the game went on, making it tougher every inning for a General to reach base.

Berkowitz needed 25 pitches to get out of the first.

After picking up a quick out against Alex McClure, Berkowitz ran into trouble the rest of the way down the order.

With Rob Kral on first from a walk, Tony Caldwell struck out.

A walk to Ryan Mathews followed up an infield single by AJ Kirby-Jones to load the bases for Cory Kovanda.

Kovanda drove in Kral and Kirby-Jones with a single back up the middle.

Staunton nipped away at the 2-0 lead through the next few innings off of Andy Altemus.

The first three Staunton batters reached in the second inning, Todd Brazeal by walk, Kyle Blackburn by single, and John Dishon by double.

Dishon’s double scored Brazeal for the first Braves’ run.

Kyle Mahoney grounded out to shortstop for the second run.

The Braves pulled away over the next two innings.

The Generals closed the gap in the sixth and extended it on their side, getting to a tired Berkowitz.

Mathews reached on an error by third baseman Chris Duffy.

Kovanda followed Mathews with an infield single.

Rhett Stafford kept the trend going with a walk, being the third straight runner to reach. Five straight would make it before McClure’s strikeout for out number one.

Stafford was trying to advance the runners but Berkowitz could not find the zone, giving up on the sure out and walking the bases loaded.

Sean Burkovich singled up the middle to score Mathews to cut the lead to two.

Mark Dvoroznak followed the single with a groundball to short.

Will Owens threw to Kent Burford at second but Burkovich beat the throw loading the bases again on the fielder’s choice while scoring the fourth run.

Kral had the General faithful on their feet, screaming their heads off with a two-run single to take the lead 6-5 before Burkowitz was chased from the game.

An error by Owens off the bat of Kirby-Jones scored Dvoroznak from third.

Mathews reached base for the second time in the inning with a RBI single to left, scoring Kral for a three run lead.

Waynesboro pulled away before giving up the blast to Brazeal.