VIENNA, VA-- The Vienna Senators are winning baseball games this season because they are playing team baseball and different players are stepping up with big plays every game.  Friday night was no different when the Senators defeated the Fauquier Gators 4-2 at Waters Field.  The Senators scored runs when they had opportunities to and they played outstanding defense behind a solid pitching trio of Greg Holland, Mark Dutmers, and Billy Tinsley.  The win was the seventh straight for the Senators, who now stand at 9-2 on the season. 

The Senators started the scoring in the second inning, when Kevin Hansen started a two out rally with a single.  Hansen then advanced to second on a wild pitch by the Gator pitcher.  Andrew Fritz followed by drawing a walk.  AJ Lamonda drove both of them in with a double to the gap in left centerfield.  Lamonda’s double made the score 2-0. 

The Senators struck again in the fourth inning when Hansen singled to start another rally.  Fritz moved Hansen to third by hitting a single while he moved to second on the throw to third.  Lamonda then collected his third RBI when he hit a groundball to the third baseman. The third baseman tried to get Hansen at the plate, but his errant throw also allowed Fritz to score to make the score 4-0.   

The Gators crept closer in the fifth when Ricky Owens scored on a Senator wild pitch, making the score 4-1. 

The Gators had a chance to get themselves back in to the game in the eighth inning, but their momentum was stopped by one of the most fundamental plays in the game of baseball. With a runner on first, Robert Bittner hit a deep fly ball to left field that Senator leftfielder Will Bussey could not handle.  Bussey picked the ball up at the fence and fired a strike to Senator second baseman Matt Lesyk, who turned and fired another perfect strike to the catcher to nail the Gator baserunner at the plate and keep the score at 4-1.  Watching the Senators execute the relay was a thing of beauty.  Bittner reached second on the play and ended up scoring two batters later on an RBI single to make the score 4-2, but it could have been worse if not for Lesyk.  With a runner on second, Tim Alberts hit a scorching ball up the middle.  Lesyk ranged to his right and dove to backhand the ball on the short hop, got up and fired a strike to Justin Bunkis to get Alberts at first.  It was the second dazzling play for Lesyk in the inning.

The Senators then brought in Billy Tinsley to close the door on the Gators in the ninth. Hansen finished with two hits for the Senators.  The Senators, who are sitting comfortably at the top of the standings, travel to Fauquier Saturday night for a rematch against the Gators.  The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.