Royals end Rebels' win streak with 10-inning victory

By Jerry Holsworth -- sports@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Jordan Steranka doubled to center in the bottom of the 10th scoring Steven Sabins from first to propel the Winchester Royals to a 10-inning 9-8 win over New Market on Thursday at Bridgeforth Field.

The game-wining hit ended a four-hour marathon, extending the Royals winning streak in Valley Baseball League play to three, and ending the Rebels four-game winning streak.

Matt Zahel got the win for Winchester in relief allowing no runs and no hits in 1 1/3 innings on the mound. Mike Roth was the losing pitcher for New Market allowing one run on two hits in the 10th.

The Rebels jumped ahead early, scoring three runs in the first three innings. The Royals, however, slowly got back into the game tying the score at 3-3 when Sabins drove home Aaron Dudley on a two-out single to left in the fifth.

Winchester seemingly took control of the game in the bottom of the eighth, scoring five runs on four hits to pull ahead 8-3. New Market, however, took advantage of a series of Royal miscues to tie the score 8-8 in the top of the ninth.

Jorge Marden and Nate Bayuk combined to walk the first two Rebel batters in the ninth, starting a Winchester defensive collapse that resulted in five runs on just two hits. A throwing error on a grounder by Winchester shortstop Brad Zapenas scored Matt Townsend and Kevin Rufus to tie the game and send it into extra innings.

One bright spot for the Royals was base stealing specialist Bobby Rauh, who added three stolen bases during the game to give him a league-leading 36 for the season. Steranka went 3-for-5 at the plate with three RBIs for the night.

Sanchez Gartman was the leading hitter for the Rebels, finishing the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs.