Do Ron Ron
PETERSBURG - Less than two weeks ago, Ronnie Shaban was hitting game-winning home runs in the Cape Cod League.
His time with the Y-D Red Sox is now over - much to the sorrow of all Coastal Plain League teams not located in Petersburg.
Shaban drove in two
Shaban drove in two runs Tuesday night as the Petersburg Generals defeated the Peninsula Pilots 7-0 in a North Division matchup at Petersburg Sports Complex.
Shaban, who started at shortstop, struck out the side in the ninth inning to close out the Pilots - and snap the Generals' eight-game losing streak.
"Summer ball is about having fun and getting better," he said following the fourth game of his second season with Petersburg. "I had a blast here last summer. I have a lot of friends on the team. It was an easy decision to come back."
Shaban led the Generals in most offensive categories in 2009, including batting average (.333); home runs (seven); slugging percentage (.536); and RBIs (38).
Charlotte right-hander Corbin Shive earned his first victory by pitching six innings of one-hit ball. Shive, who entered the game with an 0-3 record and a 5.50 ERA, struck out three.
The Pilots (18-18) stranded nine baserunners in falling to 6-3 against the Generals (8-27) this season. Petersburg was reeling entering this meeting against its archrival, having lost 12 of 13.
Having Shaban batting in the No. 3 spot suddenly gives the Generals hope.
"Honestly, it's all about how hard and how bad we want (to win)," Shaban said. "This team is talented enough to win games. We can be a really good team. We can play sound (baseball). We have the ability to win - and I hope we can play more like this from here on out.
"It's fun when you win."
It started out well - former Thomas Dale standout and current Charlotte player Michael Green led off with a bunt single - and only got better for the 670 in attendance. Leading 2-0 in the fourth inning, Jonathan Slattery recorded a bases-loaded single.
Shaban followed with a two-run single.
Any threat the Pilots once posed was gone.
Long gone.
Peninsula right-hander Kevin MacLachlan, a Villanova freshman, could not escape the fourth inning. MacLachlan allowed six earned runs on nine hits.
The Pilots committed two errors.
Taylor Buran was 1-for-3 with an RBI for Petersburg.
The Generals are idle tonight and travel to the Outer Banks Daredevils on Thursday. They return home Friday as the Edenton Steamers visit Petersburg Sports Complex.
*Neil Fuller can be reached at nfuller@progress-index.com.
PENINSULA 000 000 000 - 0 3 2
PETERSBURG 101 410 00x - 7 10 1