Whether it was a quarterback lighting up the stat sheet, teams enjoying playoff success, pitchers getting drafted or new faces taking over key positions, a lot happened in the local college athletics landscape in 2018.
The defending Valley Baseball League champions will have a new manager next season.
WOODSTOCK – After setting a franchise record for losses, Woodstock River Bandits management wanted to find a head coach who could help turns things around – and they found him. Legendary Valley Baseball League head coach Mike Bocock will take the reins next season for the River Bandits.
NEW MARKET – Throughout New Market’s surge during the season’s second half, manager Zac Cole repeatedly spoke of his team’s determination to win ballgames. That determination ultimately propelled the Rebels to the top of the Valley Baseball League.
New Market outfielder Andrew Eyster, whose arrival two weeks into the season helped turn the Rebels’ offense into one of the best in the Valley Baseball League, has claimed the VBL’s top postseason accolade.
The New Market Rebels are back in the Valley Baseball League championship series for the first time in 13 years.
After spending much of the summer struggling to play much better than .500 ball, the New Market Rebels have emerged as one of the hottest teams in the Valley Baseball League’s North Division at the season’s critical stage.
STRASBURG – The Strasburg Express have an uphill climb to make if they want to take the final playoff spot in the North Division of the Valley Baseball League.
The end of the Valley Baseball League season slated for Saturday is quickly approaching and the playoff race in the North Division remains unsettled, though that picture – which of the four teams will make the postseason, at least – could clear up in the next couple of days.
The weather is sure to have an effect on the final week of the regular season in the Valley Baseball League.
Express’s designated hitter Colton Schultz looks for the ball as he rounds third base during the sixth inning of their July 18 game against Charlottesville. Rich Cooley/DailyStrasburg’s designated hitter Colton Schultz runs to home plate to score during their July 18 game against Charlottesv…
The Front Royal Cardinals’ Rob Griswold slides into second base Thursday on a successful steal as Charlottesville Zac Ching prepares for a late tag. Rich Cooley/DailyFront Royal’s Rob Griswold stands up after stealing third base as Charlottesville’s Dom D’Allesandro looks on during Thursday …
Express players watch their teammates at bat during eighth inning action against Charlottesville on Wednesday. Rich Cooley/DailyStrasburg’s Justin Hayes slides and avoids a tag by Charlottesville’s Zac Ching on a second base steal attempt during Wednesday’s game. Rich Cooley/DailyStrasburg E…
The Valley Baseball League’s squad of traveling all-stars arrived at the Southern Collegiate Showcase in North Carolina on Monday looking to grab a pair of victories in the two-day event. The VBL didn’t quite get the two wins they were hunting, but the league left the event without a loss fo…
Matt Hiserman Rich Cooley/DailyMike LenoxJustin Broughman
FRONT ROYAL – Front Royal ruled the Valley Baseball League’s North Division for most of the summer season, but the Cardinals have lost their grip on the top spot in the standings with the end of the regular season fast approaching.
NEW MARKET – All season long New Market Rebels head coach Zac Cole has been looking for consistency for his team and with the playoffs just around the corner that hasn’t changed.
New Market’s Oraj Anu sprints down the baseline after a hit July 9 against Strasburg at Rebel Park. Rich Cooley/DailyStrasburg’s Devin Dunn fires a pitch in the bull pen at Rebel Park. Rich Cooley/DailyStrasburg pitcher Sylvester Toe warms up in the bull pen at Rebel Park. Rich Cooley/Daily
Strasburg Express’s Justin Hayes prepares to bat during their Monday night game against New Market at Rebel Park. Rich Cooley/DailyStrasburg Express’s Justin Hayes prepares to bat during their Monday night game against New Market at Rebel Park. Rich Cooley/Daily
FRONT ROYAL – The Front Royal Cardinals have a long and tough road ahead of them.
FRONT ROYAL – Before the season started Front Royal Cardinals head coach Zeke Mitchem wanted each of his players to tell him what they wanted to improve on during the Valley Baseball League this summer. For first baseman Andrew Burden it was to become more powerful at the plate – mission acc…
New Market’s Andrew Eyster dives back to first base during their Monday night game against Strasburg at Rebel Park in New Market. Eyster fell victim to a double play ball following an infield line drive catch. Rich Cooley/DailyNew Market’s Andrew Eyster waits for a pitch during Monday night’…
WOODSTOCK – Members of the Woodstock River Bandits frequent the local Sheetz in the downtime between batting practice and the start of each Valley Baseball League home game, using that period for a chance to grab some grub and cool off in the air conditioning. Clayton Jeffries, however, is …
WOODSTOCK – After a sluggish start to the 2018 Valley Baseball League season, New Market appears to be coming alive at the plate now that teams are in the heart of their summer schedules.
Front Royal shortstop Alex Briggs was one of five Cardinals selected to the Valley Baseball League All-Star Game. Rich Cooley/DailyStrasburg Express shortstop Austin Thompson crosses home plate after a home run against Staunton on June 14. Thompson will participate in Sunday’s VBL All-Star G…
STRASBURG – The losses continue to pile up for Woodstock in the Valley Baseball League, and county rival Strasburg was the latest team to hand the River Bandits a defeat on the diamond.
STRASBURG – Strasburg had become accustomed to being one of the best teams in the Valley Baseball League, winning back-to-back titles in 2015 and 2016 and playing in a third straight championship series last summer. After an uncharacteristically poor start to the 2018 season, the Express app…
FRONT ROYAL – Front Royal hosted Staunton in a rare afternoon Valley Baseball League contest on Monday, and the Cardinals’ bats were nearly as hot as the temperature that approached triple digits at Bing Crosby Stadium.
FRONT ROYAL – When Christian Avant takes his aggressive hacks with the bat each time he steps into the batter’s box, the Front Royal Cardinals catcher is also swinging a metaphorical double-edged sword.
FRONT ROYAL – College players from across the country converged on the Shenandoah Valley a month ago preparing to take part in the Valley Baseball League. Thanks to Mother Nature, the 2018 summer ball experience hasn’t quite been what those players signed up for.
Things haven’t gone quite the way New Market head coach Zac Cole thought they would early in the Valley Baseball League season.
New Market third baseman Chase Suddith prepares to put a tag on Front Royal’s Alex Briggs as Briggs slides around him during third inning action Monday night at Bing Crosby Park. Briggs was safe on the play. Rich Cooley/DailyFront Royal’s Andrew Burden breaks up a potential double play ball …
Express shortstop Austin Thompson turns a double play as Staunton’s Hayden Leatherwood slides into second base during fifth inning action Thursday night in Strasburg. Rich Cooley/DailyAustin Thompson, right, is greeted at home plate after a fourth inning home run Thursday night against Staun…
WOODSTOCK – The Woodstock River Bandits are off to a rocky start in the Valley Baseball League this season.
NEW MARKET – Zac Cole has become the veteran Valley Baseball League coach in the area.
The 2017 calendar year in local sports brought with it an abundance of storylines. Below are the top 10 sports stories, listed chronologically, of this pastyear as selected by The Northern Virginia Daily sports staff.
STRASBURG – If you were to listen to a radio broadcast of a high school sporting event in Shenandoah County over the last 30 years, you’d hear Craig Orndorff calling the action from the press box of a local football field or baseball diamond, or from the sidelines of a nearby basketball cour…
Charlottesville’s Michael Wielansky and Purcellville’s Thomas Sutera took home the major awards as the Valley Baseball League announced its 2017 All-VBL teams Friday afternoon. Front Royal, New Market, Strasburg and Woodstock combined to land a total of 15 players on the first and second All…
New Market and Strasburg are ready for the Valley Baseball League playoffs and a match-up with each other.
Woodstock Police Chief Eric Reiley, left, and Sgt. Brian Miller, center, work from a computer station inside the patrol room at the Woodstock Police Department while Wyatt Belinda, right, an intern, looks on. Belinda, who plays Valley League baseball for the Woodstock River Bandits, will typ…
Woodstock River Bandits shortstop Cash Gladfelter looks toward home plate during a game at the Southern Collegiate Showcase in Kannapolis, North Carolina over the weekend. Gladfelter was one of 30 players chosen to represent the Valley Baseball League at the five-team event. Photo courtesy o…
New Market Rebels’ first baseman Chase Sudduth fields a bunt for an out during a July 13 game against Woodstock. Rich Cooley/DailyFirst baseman Chase Sudduth looks for the ball after reaching third base off a teammate’s hit during the New Market Rebels’ July 13 game against Woodstock. Rich C…
New Market Rebels’ Chase Sudduth gives Harper Gangwer, 4, a member of Chase’s host family, a shoulder ride as Harper dons his cap at a recent game. Rich Cooley/DailyNew Market Rebels’ Chase Sudduth shares a moment with members of his host family Harper Gangwer, 4, left, Finleigh,1, center, a…
STRASBURG – Zach Peek was eyeing a job as a weekend starting pitcher as he entered his freshman year with Winthrop University’s baseball team last year, but said Monday that he lacked the mental toughness required to hold down a spot as one of the Eagles’ regular starters.
NEW MARKET — New Market sits in second place in the Valley Baseball League standings, and a big part of the reason is the depth the Rebels have offensively.
STRASBURG – Major League Baseball has for some time been pushing collegiate summer leagues to collectively form regional all-star events in order to amass college talent in centralized areas for scouting purposes, according to Butch Barnes, the director of baseball operations for the Strasbu…
The Valley Baseball League’s brief all-star break is coming up this weekend to mark the unofficial midway point of the 2017 season and while clear playoff frontrunners have emerged in the South Division, the status of the North is far less certain.
Donald Lemish has stepped down from his post as president and commissioner of the Valley Baseball League, he confirmed in a phone interview Monday afternoon.
There was a point several years ago when Bruce Alger, the longtime president and general manager of the New Market Rebels, said he began to entertain the idea of one day becoming commissioner of the Valley Baseball League. At the time, though, he felt he wasn’t quite ready to take on the role.
The New Market Rebels and the Strasburg Express each landed five players on the 2017 Valley Baseball League All-Star Game North Division roster, according to an announcement released Monday afternoon by the league. The Front Royal Cardinals and Woodstock River Bandits will each have four pla…
WOODSTOCK — There are plenty of things that make Danton Hyman stand out on and off the field.
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