The Victoria Generals scored a season-high 16 runs on Thursday night in a playoff tune-up game against the Woodlands Strykers at Riverside Stadium in Victoria. The Generals pitching staff was equally as impressive as the offense as they held the Strykers to just one run on three hits.
The Generals wasted no time getting to work as they took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Jordan Camel socked an RBI single into left field to score Frank Cloutier. David Paiz, Jr. then grounded into a fielder’s choice to allow Romeo Cortina to trot in from third. Camel came in later in the inning on a wild pitch.
The Strykers lone run of the game came in the top of the second inning as Dirk Masters scored on an RBI ground out by Bobby Schuman.
The Generals put the game out of reach in the bottom half of the second with a seven-run inning. Hayden Vesely got the party started with an RBI double down the right field line to score J.D. Arrowood. Jace Reese followed that up with an RBI single to right-center to score Vesely. Reese came in on an error by the Strykers catcher as he tried to throw out J.B. Moss stealing second base. Moss advanced to third on the bad throw and then scored on a Cortina groundout. J.D. Stinnett drilled a two-run double off of the left-centerfield wall to score Camel and Paiz. Arrowood then singled home Stinnett to make it a 10-1 Generals lead.
Vesely delivered his second double of the game, this one off of the left field wall, to score Paiz and Arrowood in the fourth inning. Vesely then scored on Reese’s RBI single to make it 13-1 in favor of the Generals.
Stinnett scored in the sixth on a wild pitch to bump the Generals lead to 14-1.
The Generals final two runs of the game came in the bottom of the seventh to make it 16-1. Brandon Hannon and Jacob Hubert each scored on wild pitches in the inning.
J.P. Clifton tossed the first three innings of the game, allowing just one run on two hits with three strikeouts. Andrew Walker was credited with the win as he pitched one scoreless frame.
Tyler Schnuriger allowed just one run in his two innings of work with three strikeouts. Kris Looper also tossed two scoreless innings without allowing a hit.
Jacob Hubert protected the Generals 15-run lead as he pitched a perfect ninth inning. The Generals outfielder got two fly outs and a ground out in his first inning of action on the mound this summer.
Paiz, Arrowood, Vesely, and Reese each had two hits in the game to lead the Generals.
With the win, the Generals improve to 29-29 on the season and 12-16 in the second-half. The Strykers fall to 21-38 overall and 12-17 in the second-half.
The Generals and Strykers will play the final game of the regular season on Friday night at 7:05pm at Riverside Stadium in Victoria. The Generals will have a special pregame ceremony on Friday night to hand out team awards, honor a few host families and staff members, and retire former General Chad Kruse’s #55 jersey. Former Generals assistant Coach Shorty Cook and his Hallettsville Brahmas State Champion Baseball Team will also be honored before the game. The ceremony will begin at 6:45.
The Generals will host the Acadiana Cane Cutters in the first game of the TCL playoffs on Saturday night at Riverside Stadium. The winner will advance to the TCL Championship Series. The Generals have made it to the Championship Series in three out of the last four years.
Box Score: http://tcl-generals.bbstats.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=139800
Article courtesy of the Victoria Advocate: http://www.advosports.com/news/2013/aug/08/ko_generals_strykers_080913_216774/
Video courtesy of Crossroads Today: http://www.crossroadstoday.com/content/sports/local/story/Generals-Win-Big/viCAnus1lEaOwMBAVF6AYQ.cspx
Warrior Supply Warriors of the Game - Jacob Hubert, Hayden Vesely, and Jonathan Burns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDwiw8FrFxE&feature=c4-overview&list=UUWDRnu_qQ4kyQEK9oqND7FA
