Rebels' bats come alive in rout at home

By Jerry Holsworth -- sports@nvdaily.com

NEW MARKET -- After a slow start in Valley League play, New Market played superbly in every phase of the game Friday, dominating Luray, 8-1, at Rebel Park.

"We played a complete game tonight," New Market coach Lucas Jones said. "We hit the ball when we needed and we got great pitching. The defense really handled the ball well. It's pretty simple. When you play the way we did tonight, you're going to win a lot of games."

Starting pitcher Eric Alessio (2-0) tossed six solid innings for the Rebels (3-6) and his defense got the Wranglers out consistently when they were able to hit the ball.

"I thought we hit the ball well tonight," Luray coach Mike Bocock said. "We just seemed to hit it right at them."

Alessio, a senior at Marist, allowed just one run on just six hits for the Rebels. He struck out four and issued just one walk.

"I really didn't have my best stuff tonight," Alessio said. "But I thought I found a way to get them out. I had a great defensive performance tonight behind me and great production from our offense too."

While Alessio and the New Market defense were keeping Luray off the scoreboard, the Rebels' bats were having a field day against the Wranglers' pitching.

Luray starter Andy Moye (0-2) gave up four runs through three innings on the mound. His replacement, Vance Chavis, wasn't any better, as he allowed four more runs in 1 1/3 innings of relief.

New Market's first run came on a solo homer by Sanchez Gartman, who clubbed a pitch from Moye over the leftfield fence. The Rebels added three more runs in the third. Jordan Pegram got the key hit on a two-run single to left. The Rebels added another four runs in the fifth, taking advantage of hits from Gartman, Nathan Furry, Matt Leskiw and Richard Gonzalez.

Luray didn't help itself when a wild throw by rightfielder David Bowman allowed Seth Kivett to score from second base off a single by Gonzalez.

"In the last two days, we've had about 20 walks and four runs," Bocock said. "You are not going to win any Valley League games playing like that. We just have to get better."

Luray's only run came in the sixth when D.J. Hicks hit a sac fly to center that scored Drew Martinez.

"We're beginning to come together as a team and I think we are going to be dangerous for the rest of this season," Alessio said.