Rebels rally for win, clinch playoff berth

By Dennis Atwood -- sports@nvdaily.com

NEW MARKET -- The New Market Rebels were looking to end their four game losing streak and take charge of their own fate regarding a post-season playoff spot when they hosted the Harrisonburg Turks in Valley Baseball League action Friday night.

The Rebels came from behind twice on the way to a 5-4 win in 10 innings to clinch a playoff berth, ending the Turks' slim chances of postseason action.

Harrisonburg finished the year at 20-23.

"This is the first year my team hasn't made into the playoffs in a very long time," Turks head coach Bob Wease said. "We had the game won, but we just missed that ball [in the 10th] and the closer [Brian Burgess] is very good. I wish New Market nothing but the best."

The game featured a flurry of activity at the beginning and end as the Turks led 3-2 at the end of the first inning. New Market didn't score again until the seventh inning, when they tied it at 3-3.

Harrisonburg took the lead back in the top of eighth, only to see the Rebels tie it up again at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth on a wild pitch. The Rebels won the game in the 10th on a bloop single behind first base.

"It feels good because we hit a tough stretch the last few games," New Market head coach Lucas Jones said. "It's nice to be rewarded for the whole team's hard work all year."

Garrett Baker, who has had little run support with his 1.94 ERA resulting in a 2-3 record, started on the mound for the Rebels. He was greeted rudely as the Turks sent eight batters to the plate.

Ray Quinones led off the game with a solid liner up the middle for a single. After Ryan Eden popped out, Thomas Nichols (3-for-4) launched his fifth homer of the season over the right-field wall.

Jack Posey, Mike Schwartz, Nathan Weglarz and Daniel Heatwole then hit consecutive singles. But Posey was caught stealing second on a throw from catcher Nate Furry, which took one hop on the way to the bag. Heatwole's hit drove in Schwartz for the third Turks run.

The Rebels answered loudly in their first at bat, sending seven batters to the plate against Harrisonburg starter Clint Dempster, who issued one-out walks to Kevin Rufus and Seth Kivett.

Rufus stole third, one of four bases he swiped in the game, and scored on Sanchez Gartman's ground out.

Richard Gonzalez (2-for-4, two RBIs) then drove in Kivett with a single to right, and the Rebels trailed 3-2.

"We just don't give up," Gonzalez said. "We knew we had a shot to win this game, and it would be a lot easier getting into the playoffs if we won this one. We needed some timely hitting, which we haven't been getting in the last couple of games. I was glad I had some people on when I was up, so I was just trying to get something up the middle and get them in."

Baker pitched shutout ball through the seventh, reaching an extraordinarily high pitch count of 119. He was relieved in the top of the eighth by Jake Guengerich.

Guengerich gave up a lead-off single to Nichols, who advanced to second on Posey's sac bunt. Schwartz was intentionally walked and Weglarz struck out.

Ace Rebels closer Brian Burgess came on to relieve Guengerich. Heatwole hit a high chopper to short that Zak Messer had trouble handling and pulled Zack Helgeson off first base, allowing Nichols to score the go-ahead run.

In the bottom of the ninth, Drew Granier relieved Dempster and yielded a lead-off walk to Sanchez Gartman, who stole second and moved to third on a Gonzalez ground out.

While pitching to Helgeson with two outs, Granier threw a wild pitch, enabling Gartmen to cross the plate with the tying run and send the game into extra innings.

McKinnon Langston laid down a bunt to the third-base side of the mound and beat it out for a hit. Furry sacrificed Langston to second.

Rufus, who was ruled out on a controversial play at the plate in the seventh frame, hit a blooper to shallow right field. The Turks' first baseman, second baseman, and right fielder all converged on the ball, but none of them took charge and it fell to ground, scoring pinch-runner Matt Burnside for the walk-off game-winning RBI.

Burgess gained his second win, to go 2-0, along with his nine saves, and preserved his 0.00 ERA.

Rebels outfielder Kenny Mickens was present, but not in uniform. He is not medically cleared to play for the rest of the season.

New Market's roster at the catcher position has been decimated. Will Cooper (George Washington) got a bone chip in his elbow Monday night, on a tag out, and George Carroll (NY Tech) couldn't play after Wednesday's game at Harrisonburg, also an elbow injury. Furry (Virginia Commonwealth) has returned to the team to perform behind the plate.