Three games were played last night, but it was the last night that will happen in the 2016 season, as two series ended, leaving only the Division finals and the overall finals left to play.

Results

Strasburg 5, Purcellville 1 (Express win series, 2-0. Ben Dum pitched 8 outstanding innings, and Michael Curry hit a 3-run home run in the 8th inning to put this one away. The Express now face Front Royal in the next round!)

Front Royal 3, Winchester 2 (Front Royal win series, 2-0. (All first round series ended 2-0. That’s odd.) Tied at 2, the Cards’ Clay Hunt and Joey Mundy struck again in the bottom of the 8th. Hunt reached on an error, advancing to 3rd base, and Mundy brought him home with a sacrifice fly. Frank Rubio pitched 4 shutout innings in relief for Front Royal. The Cards now travel to Strasburg tonight for the next series.)

Waynesboro 9, Covington 1 (Generals lead series, 1-0. Waynesboro left nothing to doubt, as the lineup pounded out 2 doubles and 3 home runs while scoring all 9 runs in the first 4 innings. Campbell Scholl pitched 5 shutout innings and Kyle Jackson hit 2 of the aforementioned home runs. The Generals have outscored the opposition 26-7 in three playoff games.)

Hitter of the Day

Kyle Jackson Elon 2016The hitter of the day is Kyle Jackson, from Waynesboro and Elon. Kyle went 2-4 in the General’s blowout win, with 2 runs, 4 RBIs, and 2 home runs. He’s now 2-12 in the playoffs, and hit 274/379/474 in 135 at-bats in the regular season, with 10 doubles and 5 home runs.

Others of Note

Michael Curry, Strasburg: 2-4, run
Carter Pharis, Strasburg: 1-4, 3 -run HR
Jacob Tisevich, Strasburg: 2-4, run
Denathan Dukes, Purcellville: 2-3, run, 2B
Jacob Koos, Winchester: 1-3, BB, 2 RBIs, 2B
Michael Hartnagel, Front Royal: 3-4, RBI, 2B
Tyler Kaiser, Front Royal: 2-3, RBI
Riley Mihalik, Covington: 2-5
Bruce Strickland, Covington: 2-4
Tanner Poole, Waynesboro: 2-5, run, RBI
Sam Palensky, Waynesboro: 2-3, run, 2 RBIs, 2B, HBP, SB
Brent Sakurai, Waynesboro: 2-4, 2 runs

Pitcher of the Day

The POD is, yet again, Benjamin Dum, from Strasburg and VCU. Ben has made a habit of winning this award! Last night, he threw 8 excellent innings, allowing only 4 hits, 3 walks, 1 earned run, Benjamin Dum VCU 2016and struck out 6. He earned the win and a game score of 73. This was his first start in the playoffs, and he went 4-0, 1.42 in 38 innings in the regular season.

Others of Note

Pat Doudican, Purcellville: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 8 K’s, loss (63)
Joey Jones, Winchester: 8 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 8 K’s, loss (62)
Jacob Ramos, Front Royal: 5 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 5 K’s (56)
Frank Rubio, Front Royal: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K’s, win
Tanner Muovich, Covington: 4 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K’s
Campbell Scholl, Waynesboro: 5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K’s, win (60)
Tyler Elwer, Waynesboro: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Tonight’s Games

Waynesboro (Vince Braman) at Covington (Dolan Kunkel)
Front Royal (Clay Hunt) at Strasburg (TBD)