STUARTS DRAFT – Jackson Powell gave Waynesboro a strong start on the mound and Casey Breeden did the damage at the plate as the Little Giants defeated Stuarts Draft 8-2 Monday.

Powell gave the depleted Waynesboro pitching staff six solid innings to save most of the bullpen for two more district games coming up this week. Powell allowed two runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking five.

“Honestly, I don’t think he had his best stuff out there today,” Waynesboro head coach Gage Wood said of Powell’s performance. “It was one of those games where we needed him to grind it out and that’s what he did.”

With Powell nearing his pitch limit, Gabriel Smith came on in the seventh and finished up for the Little Giants.

Waynesboro snapped a scoreless tie with four runs in the third inning. The Little Giants loaded the bases with a walk to Berg, a single by Carson and a walk to Powell. Berg scored on a groundball by Smith, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead. After Caden Turner walked to reload the bases, Breeden cleared the bags with a three-run double, making the score 4-0.

The Little Giants pulled away in the fourth with three more runs. Smith drove in a run with a single and Caden Stringer walked with the bases loaded, making the score 6-0. Breeden drove in his fourth run with a single, scoring Jared Culmer for a 7-0 cushion.

Breeden did the job near the bottom of the order, going 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and four RBIs. Smith was 2-for-5 with three runs batted in. Jasiah Berg and Trenton Carson each added two base hits.

Colton Parkulo and Jackson Mader each drove in a run for the Cougars.

“We have to be scrappy,” Wood said. “We struggled early in the season with strikeouts and we’re still not great but we’re doing better, at least hitting the ball on the ground and making things happen.”

Staunton 11, Rocktown 1

HARRISONBURG – Staunton broke open a close game with a four-run fourth inning Monday, and the Storm finished off the Rocktown Raptors in five innings, 11-1.

The Storm led 2-0 after three innings but padded the lead in the fourth. Parker Perryman walked to lead off the inning and Zack Hinkle followed with a double. Gabe Johnson chased both runners home with a single to right, making the score 4-0. Austin Sullenger made it 6-0 with a two-run inside-the-park homer.

After the Raptors scored a run in the bottom of the fourth, Staunton ended the game with five runs in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Perryman scored on a wild pitch for a 7-1 Staunton lead. Johnson walked to reload the sacks before Sullenger cleared the bases with a three-run triple for a 10-1 cushion. Nathan Neil followed with a single for an 11-1 cushion.

Sullenger drove in five runs and Johnson added two RBIs. Sullenger, Neil and Hinkle each had two hits.

Brown went the distance on the mound, allowed one run on five hits. Brown struck out five and walked four.

5/4 Baseball Roundup: Little Giants Top Cougars, 8-2