All Things Valley League

Minor League Top Performers for Saturday, May 17

We have only three players from last night's games:

John Raynor (New Market 04, and left) went 3-5 for Double-A Carolina. John is hanging in there at the higher level this year, as he's hitting 278/392/466 in 133 at-bats.

Chris Fournier (Winchester 05), newly assigned to High-A St.Lucie, went 2-2 with a triple, 2 walks, 3 runs, and an RBI. This was Chris's second game for a full-season team this year; I don't know where he was, maybe still instructional league, maybe an injury, but he's off to an excellent start!

Nick Stavinoha (Front Royal 03) is still hitting like crazy! He went 2-5 with a home run and 2 RBIs for Triple-A Memphis. He's hitting 369/401/546 in 141 at-bats.

Oklahoma City Wins Super-Regional Championship

Last night, the Oklahoma City Stars clinched the Mid-South Super-Regional championship with a 10-7 victory over Missouri Baptist.

As usual, former Harrisonburg Turks played a large role in the victory. Garrett Parker (07) received the win after throwing 3 1/3 innings, allowing 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 runs (earned), and striking out 3. B.J. Wheeler (07) went 2-5 with 2 RBIs, and David "Moose" Dennis (06-07) went 3-5 with a double, run, and 2 RBIs.

The team will now travel to Lewiston, Idaho, to participate in the NAIA World Series.  The Stars, ranked #5 in the nation, are now 55-10.

Congrats, guys!

Miller Big 10 Player of the Week

Justin Miller (Luray 06-07), Valley League alum and Turner Ashby High School product, was named the Big 10 player of the week that ended on May 11.  Justin went 7-13 for the week, with a line of 538/571/692. He is hammering the ball this year, with a line of 400/441/531 in 175 at-bats. He has 14 doubles, 3 home runs, 57 RBIs, and BB/K numbers of 15/13.

Will pro ball take notice of Mr. Miller this June? 

Oklahoma City Captures Regional Championship

Oklahoma City, featuring many past Harrisonburg Turks, upended Lubbock Christian last Saturday to win the NAIA Region VI championship and move on to the NAIA Mid-South Super Regional, which began last night.

Along the way, the Stars set the NAIA record for most team home runs in a season when B.J. Wheeler (Turks 07) hit #142 with a 6th inning 2-run shot. Wheeler has 8 on the year and Sammy Lee (Turks 07) has 3, but the big bopper is David Moose Dennis (Turks 06-07, and pictured left), who has a huge 27 home runs (tied for the most in school history) and 103 RBIs in 62 games. 

In addition, even though he has the nickname of a large, seemingly "thick" animal, Moose is also pretty smart. He has been named to the ESPN the Magazine academic all-district baseball team as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Dennis has a 3.22 GPA pursuing a business management major at OCU.

Last night, the Stars took game one of a three-game set against Missouri Baptist, 5-4. Ex-Turks again came up big, as Wheeler went 3-4 and scored the game winning run, and Dennis went 2-5 with yet another RBI. Game 2 tonight!

Congratulations, guys!

Minor League Top Performers for Wednesday, May 14

Another down day in the minors- only 5 mentions from Wednesday night.  All repeat names:

Greg Sexton (New Market 04, left) is really starting to pour it on- he went 3-4 with a double and 2 runs for Low-A Columbus. He's now hitting 303/363/462 in 132 at-bats.

Ben Harrison (Harrisonburg 01) is also hitting like crazy- he went 2-4 with a 2-run home run for Double-A Frisco. He's now at 333/426/615 in 78 at-bats.

Adam Calderone (Woodstock 04) went 2-4 with a double, home run, and 2 runs for High-A Dunedin. He's 306/375/611 in 36 at-bats. .611 slugging!  That's 3 doubles, a triple and a home run in those 36 at-bats.

Matt Camp (Covington 03) went 2-4 with a double for Double-A Tennessee. He's now 270/342/321 in 137 at-bats.

Gaby Sanchez (Staunton 03, right) continues to hit for a high average and OBP, as he went 2-4 for Double-A Carolina. He's hitting 321/413/443 in 131 at-bats; tremendous OBP, but the power needs to increase a bit...

Kratz Up to AAA

Erik Kratz, an ATVL favorite (see the 2-part interview here and here), has been called up to Triple-A Syracuse by the Toronto Blue Jays.

The move seems to have been made because of injuries: both Robinzon Diaz and Kevin Nelson are currently on the 7-day disable list. Kratz is hitting 188/188/250 in 4 games at the upper level, putting him at 245/273/434 on the year at both stops.

ATVL is hoping that Erik catches fire at the plate, and that it carries him all the way to Toronto!

Minor League Top Performers for Tuesday, May 13

Back to a normal number of VLBers to have good games in the minors: seven.  Some repeat offenders, but also two new names on the year...

Adam Pavkovich (Waynesboro 01-02, left) had yet another good game, going 2-4 with 2 runs, a home run, and 3 RBIs. He's now hitting 299/355/464 in 97 at-bats. He's also still just one step away from the major leagues...

Josh Papelbon (Loudoun 04) threw a shutout inning against Visalia, allowing one hit and one walk. Josh has struggled a bit this season, as he's at 0-2, 6.16, with a 1.68 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9 and 8.1 K/9 in 19 innings. His home park is also very, very difficult to pitch in; it is very much a hitter's park. This is Josh's first appearance in this update!

Robert Rohrbaugh (Winchester 03) threw a good game, throwing 5 2/3 innings against Triple-A Omaha, allowing 4 hits, 2 walks, 1 run (earned), and striking out 2. On the year, Robert is 3-2, 5.66, with a 1.63 WHIP, 3.9 BB/9, and 4.9 K/9 in 35 innings. This is his first appearance, too!

Ben Harrison (Harrisonburg 01) continued his hot streak, going 2-3 with a walk, 2 runs, walk, home run, and 2 RBIs. He's hitting a robust 324/422/581 in 74 at-bats.

Craig Tatum (Covington 02) had a good game, going 2-4 with a double and 2 RBIs. He's hitting 248/319/410 in 105 at-bats.

Bobby Spain (Harrisonburg 06-07, right) had another tremendous game, going 3-5 with a double, home run, 2 runs, and 3 RBIs. He's really hitting; his rates are 316/358/474 in 114 at-bats. (He's 15-41 in his last 10 games.)

Tom Hagan (Covington 04-05) had a good game hitting behind Spain, going 2-4 with a home run, 2 runs, and an RBI. He's hitting 286/333/398 in 98 at-bats thus far. (Not surprisingly, Hickory won, 7-5.)

Cozart Named Head Coach

Central Florida has announced that former Staunton Brave Craig Cozart will be the Knights' interim head coach for the season, as former head coach Jay Bergman is no longer with the team. Cozart has been with the baseball program at CF for 12 years; one would think that he will be on the short list of possible permanent coaches...

To read the Orlando Sentinel article on the firing, along with a Cozart quote, click here.

Minor League Top Performers for Monday, May 12

A poor night last night- only four standouts:

Greg Sexton (New Market 04) went 1-3 with a walk and a 3-run home run. He's at 285/350/447 in 123 at-bats. Those numbers keep creeping upwards...

Gaby Sanchez (Staunton 03) went 1-4 with a double and 2 RBIs. He's hitting 309/404/439 in 123 at-bats, too.

Tommy Manzella (Waynesboro 03) went 2-4 with a double. He's now hitting 301/346/413 in 143 at-bats.

Stephen Faris (New Market 04) threw 6 shutout innings, giving up 6 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 4. He's now 2-1, 5.63, with a 1.54 WHIP, 4.9 BB/9, and 6.4 K/9 in 24 innings pitched.

That's all, folks!

Around the Valley Covered in Staunton News-Leader

Just in case any of you needed more evidence that the summer season is almost upon us, all the reminder needed is in Saturday's Newsleader.

In the article, Shaun T. Cox spent some time interviewing Jerry Carter, the brain behind the "Around the Valley in 60 Days" promotion, and Kay Snyder, the Staunton Braves' owner.

To go to the "Around the Valley" website, click here.