Hitting helps River Bandits take slugfest

By Robert Edmonds -- sports@nvdaily.com

WOODSTOCK -- The River Bandits rallied from an early deficit Thursday to begin the second half of the Valley League season with a victory.

Gerardo Caceres hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to propel his team to victory over Harrisonburg, 10-9.

"Our team has never quit all year," Woodstock manager Donn Foltz said. "I am really proud of our guys and the way they played tonight. There is no die in this team."

With both teams' pitching staffs flailing, Woodstock had the biggest offensive performance of its season exactly when they needed it.

After falling behind early, only to tie and then fall behind again, the River Bandits found themselves with an opportunity to seize the victory. After Daniel Lazzaroni battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the top half of the ninth, Woodstock responded without missing a beat.

"Lazzaroni fell behind a couple times," Foltz said. "But he did a good job when we needed him. He was able to battle back with the bases jammed in that situation."

With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Eric Kroll drew a walk and Cory Tilton hit his third single of the game to start the rally. Turks pitcher Brad Riddle then hit Derek Vigoa to load the bases and set up Caceres.

Caceres, a native from Venezuela who joined the River Bandits just recently, found himself with an opportunity to show why he was brought to the team. The second baseman sent a 2-1 pitch from Riddle into leftfield to score Kroll for the winning run.

"I was looking for a good pitch to drive," Caceres said. "The pitcher threw the pitch in the middle inside and I shortened my swing and was able to get the hit."

"He [Caceres] has only been with us about a week or so but he had some good at-bats tonight," Foltz said. "He stepped up well and did a great job when we needed it."

Harrisonburg jumped out to an early lead as it ended Woodstock starter Michael Garza's night early, scoring five runs in the first three innings.

Trailing by five in the bottom of the third, Woodstock did not show any signs of defeat as it battled back to score five runs, including a three-run home run from Matthew Blow to tie the game.

"After falling behind, those first five runs to tie the game was what shifted the momentum to us," Caceres said. "The pitching has been doing well all year and it was good that we were able to step up with our bats tonight when they needed us."

After falling behind again, Woodstock battled back to take the lead in the seventh on a two-run home run over the centerfield fence from Kroll, only to lose the lead once again in the eighth inning.

Turks third baseman Thomas Nichols hit his team's second home run of the night to begin the eighth inning and set the scene for the dramatic ninth inning.

"The pitching has been carrying us all year," Tilton said. "I'm glad we are playing good on the offensive side and we hope to continue. Right now, every game matters down the stretch and we are going to take one game at a time. We just need to make sure we execute."