Generals crush Lumberjacks

Waynesboro must like afternoon baseball, as demonstrated by 15 runs on 17 hits.

Covington did not stand a chance once the pitches started flying as the Generals went on to demolish the Lumberjacks 15-4 on Thursday afternoon in the first game of a season-ending doubleheader.

It took most of the season, but the bats finally woke up for the Generals.

Waynesboro established an early lead picking up four runs in the first inning after Andy Altemus pitched a scoreless top of the first.

Covington starter Mike Kaczmarek helped out the Generals as much as they could help out themselves.

Kaczmarek hit Brooks Cullen to start the game and walked another five over the first two innings.

Following the Cullen plunking and Mark Dvoroznak’s walk, Alex McClure tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt.

The bunt was too perfect down the third base line, ruled a hit for McClure.

The catcher came up with the ball and laced a throw to first, but Brandon Lower could not get to first in time and the throw went into right field, allowing McClure to go all the way to third while Cullen and Dvoroznak crossed the plate.

Tony Caldwell, the hero of the first two innings, tripled home McClure with a shot to deep right-center, his first triple of the year.

“The guys were definitely relaxed,” Waynesboro coach Derek McDaniel said. “We hit the ball well and that was one of their regular starters.”

Rob Kral, the fifth batter, grounded out to third, allowing Caldwell to score.

The Generals hit Covington hard in the first, getting four runs from the first five batters in the order.

Waynesboro batted around in the first, and not to be outdone, batted around in the second as well.

Kaczmarek walked the first two in the second inning as well.

Caldwell, not to be outdone, homered deep over the scoreboard in left-center, landing on the embankment of Hopeman Parkway.

After just two innings, Caldwell had already picked up the two hardest parts of the cycle with a single and double to go.

Jose Rodriguez showed off his power as well, driving Kral home from second.

Kral doubled following Caldwell’s home run.

Covington picked up a few runs in the second and third, but down 8-3 after three innings, Altemus had the run support to maintain a lead.

When he hit a groove in the fourth inning, Covington was all but done.

“Andy and Dusty [White] threw well,” McDaniel added. “Hopefully we play the next game the same way.”

Ryan Mathews’ three run bomb in the seventh inning that hugged the foul pole in left field, pushed the lead to eleven runs with two innings to go.