June 30,2014 – The Victoria Generals swept the weekly TCL awards this week with Justin Pacchioli claiming the Dinger Player of the Week honors, while Ryan Benitez picked up the Pitcher of the Week honors. Both players had outstanding weeks as the Generals finished up the week with a 6-1 record and clinched a playoff spot for the post season.
Pacchioli batted .407 in five games with and On Base Percentage of .519. During that span, Justin had 11 hits, scored 9 runs, had 12 RBI's, 1 double, 2 triples, 2 HR's, 3 stolen bases and 3 walks. Pacchioli's strong week also propelled him into the league lead in batting average at .371, edging teammate Alvaro Rondon (.363) who has led the league all season. Pacchioli is also the league leader in homeruns with three on the season after his two homeruns this week.
In game one of a doubleheader on Friday night at Riverside Stadium, Pacchioli came to the plate with two runners in scoring position and hit an inside the park homerun to give the Generals the lead 3-1 in the 3rd inning. The Generals would go on to win the game 5-4 in 10 innings. Later that night in game two, Pacchioli would come to the plate to lead off the bottom of the 9th and would hit walk-off home run to give the Generals a 4-3 victory.
Pacchioli, a junior this past Spring at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania , lead his team with a .362 batting average in 35 games.
Benitez also had a fine week finishing up the week with a win and a no decision after pitching two solid games. The win came last night as Benitez would go 8 strong innings, striking out 11 and held the Texas Marshals to a run in the first inning. Benitez would settle down and shut the Marshals down the rest of the evening as the Generals would go on to win the game 6-1. For the week, Benitez would throw 14 innings, and led the league for the week with 16 strike outs while allowing only 2 walks. On the week Benitez would allow only 3 earned runs and finishes up with a 1.93 ERA. Benitez is currently 3-0 on the season with a 1.91 ERA and is the league leader in strike outs with 36.
Benitez joined the Generals in week 2 of the season from Texas A & M Kingsville. Benitez finished up the Spring for the Javelinas with a 4-2 record, pitching in 13 games going 37.2 innings and compiled a 3.82 ERA. The Generals return home from a short two game road trip to Acadiana on Thursday night at Riverside Stadium against the Brazos Valley Bombers. It will be "Hog Night at the Park" presented by Victoria Harley Davidson. Make sure to be one of the first 150 fans and get a free bandana! Fans also receive free general admission when they ride their bike to the game and have a chance to take a pregame lap on the field. Gates open at 6:30pm with first pitch set for 7:35pm.
