Valley League elects new leaders
Dave Biery and Jim Phillips, two long-time officers of the Valley Baseball League, are stepping down. Biery, who has served as League president since 1985, will be retiring from his post after the 2012 season. Don Lemish, the former athletics director at James Madison University and current commissioner of the Rockingham County Baseball League, will be taking his place. Lemish will serve as assistant to the president for the upcoming season.
“It’s been a great adventure,” says Biery, who cites the expansion of the league from six to 12 teams as a major accomplishment of his tenure because it doubled the opportunity for college players to improve their skills. He also views the change of the league’s status from profit to nonprofit as another significant achievement of his presidency. Read more
Valley League releases 2012 schedule
Waynesboro opens the 2012 Valley League season with a home game with rival Staunton on Friday, June 1, at 7 p.m.
The Valley League released the 2012 schedule on Monday. The 12-team league will be broken up into two six-team divisions. In 2011, there were three four-team divisions.
The Generals will meet the Staunton Braves eight times – with home games on June 1, June 14, July 13 and July 20 and road games on June 7, June 13, June 27 and July 14.
Waynesboro took nine of the 10 games in the season series with Staunton in 2011 en route to winning the South Division championship.
2012 Valley League Schedule
| Date | Status | Away | Home |
| Fri, June 1 | 7:00 | Strasburg | Luray |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Rockbridge | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | Covington | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Front Royal | Haymarket | |
| Sat, June 2 | 7:00 | Haymarket | Luray |
| 7:00 | Winchester | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Waynesboro | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Harrisonburg | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Strasburg | Woodstock | |
| Sun, June 3 | 6:00 | Strasburg | Haymarket |
| 7:00 | Luray | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Front Royal | Woodstock | |
| Mon, June 4 | 7:15 | VBL Meeting | |
| Tue, June 5 | 7:00 | Woodstock | Luray |
| 7:00 | Strasburg | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Covington | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Staunton | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Winchester | Haymarket | |
| Wed, June 6 | 7:00 | Strasburg | Winchester |
| 7:00 | Front Royal | Luray | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Covington | |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | Harrisonburg | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Haymarket | Woodstock | |
| Thur, June 7 | 6:30 | Luray | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Haymarket | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Covington | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Winchester | Woodstock | |
| Fri, June 8 | 6:30 | Woodstock | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Rockbridge | |
| 7:00 | Winchester | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Covington | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | Harrisonburg | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Luray | Haymarket | |
| Sat, June 9 | 6:30 | Haymarket | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Winchester | Luray | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Covington | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Front Royal | Woodstock | |
| Sun, June 10 | 6:30 | Front Royal | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Haymarket | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Covington | |
| 7:30 | New Market | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Luray | Woodstock | |
| Mon, June 11 | Rain Date | ||
| Tue, June 12 | 6:30 | Winchester | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Front Royal | Luray | |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Staunton | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Woodstock | Haymarket | |
| Wed, June 13 | 7:00 | Covington | Rockbridge |
| 7:00 | Strasburg | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | Haymarket | Front Royal | |
| 7:30 | Harrisonburg | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | Luray | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | Staunton | |
| Thurs, June 14 | 6:30 | Luray | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Front Royal | Haymarket | |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | Covington | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | New Market | |
| Fri, June 15 | 7:00 | Haymarket | Luray |
| 7:30 | Strasburg | Woodstock | |
| 7:00 | Winchester | Front Royal | |
| 7:30 | New Market | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | Staunton | |
| 7:00 | Waynesboro | Covington | |
| Sat, June 16 | 7:00 | Luray | Winchester |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Rockbridge | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Strasburg | Haymarket | |
| Sun, June 17 | 6:00 | Winchester | Haymarket |
| 6:30 | Front Royal | Strasburg | |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Luray | |
| 7:00 | Covington | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Staunton | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | Harrisonburg | |
| Mon, June 18 | Rain Date | ||
| Tues, June 19 | 7:00 | Strasburg | Winchester |
| 7:00 | Luray | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Waynesboro | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Haymarket | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | Covington | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Harrisonburg | Staunton | |
| Wed, June 20 | 6:30 | Rockbridge | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Front Royal | Covington | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Luray | |
| 7:00 | Winchester | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | Staunton | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | Harrisonburg | Haymarket | |
| Thurs, June 21 | 7:00 | Luray | Rockbridge |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Winchester | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Haymarket | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Front Royal | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Strasburg | Staunton | |
| Fri, June 22 | 6:30 | Waynesboro | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | New Market | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Luray | |
| 7:30 | Covington | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | Winchester | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | Haymarket | |
| Sat, June 23 | 7:00 | Front Royal | Rockbridge |
| 7:00 | New Market | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | Luray | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Strasburg | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Harrisonburg | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | Haymarket | Staunton | |
| Sun, June 24 | 6:00 | Waynesboro | Haymarket |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Covington | Luray | |
| 7:00 | Winchester | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Strasburg | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Woodstock | New Market | |
| Mon, June 25 | Rain Date | ||
| Tues, June 26 | 6:30 | New Market | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Front Royal | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Haymarket | Covington | |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Rockbridge | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Winchester | |
| 7:30 | Luray | Harrisonburg | |
| Wed, June 27 | 7:00 | Haymarket | Front Royal |
| 7:00 | Strasburg | Luray | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Winchester | Woodstock | |
| Thurs, June 28 | 6:30 | Woodstock | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Rockbridge | |
| 7:00 | Front Royal | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | Covington | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | New Market | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Luray | Haymarket | |
| Fri, June 29 | 6:30 | Haymarket | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Winchester | Luray | |
| 7:30 | Front Royal | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Covington | Staunton | |
| Sat, June 30 | 7:00 | Haymarket | Winchester |
| 7:00 | Strasburg | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Covington | |
| 7:30 | New Market | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Luray | Woodstock | |
| Sun, July 1 | 6:00 | Woodstock | Haymarket |
| 6:30 | Winchester | Strasburg | |
| 7:00 | Luray | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Waynesboro | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Covington | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Staunton | Harrisonburg | |
| Mon, July 2 | 7:00 | Covington | Front Royal |
| 7:00 | Strasburg | Rockbridge | |
| 7:00 | Waynesboro | Winchester | |
| 7:30 | Haymarket | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Luray | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Woodstock | Staunton | |
| Tues, July 3 | 6:00 | Covington | Winchester |
| 6:30 | Staunton | Strasburg | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Luray | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | New Market | Haymarket | |
| Wed, July 4 | No Games Scheduled | ||
| Thurs, July 5 | 6:30 | Harrisonburg | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Haymarket | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Luray | Covington | |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Winchester | |
| 7:30 | Front Royal | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | New Market | Woodstock | |
| Fri, July 6 | 7:00 | Haymarket | Rockbridge |
| 7:00 | Strasburg | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Luray | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Front Royal | New Market | |
| Sat, July 7 | 6:30 | Covington | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Waynesboro | Luray | |
| 7:30 | Staunton | Haymarket | |
| 7:30 | Woodstock | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Winchester | New Market | |
| Sun, July 8 | 7:30 | VBL All-Star Game | |
| At Front Royal | |||
| Mon, July 9 | Rain Date | ||
| Tues, July 10 | Rain Date | ||
| Wed, July 11 | 7:00 | Waynesboro | Front Royal |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Luray | |
| 7:30 | Winchester | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Covington | Haymarket | |
| 7:30 | Strasburg | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | Woodstock | |
| Thurs, July 12 | 7:00 | Luray | Winchester |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Strasburg | Haymarket | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | Harrisonburg | |
| Fri, July 13 | 6:30 | Woodstock | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | New Market | Luray | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Waynesboro | |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Winchester | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Front Royal | Haymarket | |
| Sat, July 14 | 6:30 | Luray | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Haymarket | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Covington | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | Staunton | |
| Sun, July 15 | 7:00 | Haymarket | Luray |
| 7:00 | Front Royal | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | Waynesboro | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Strasburg | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | Harrisonburg | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | Staunton | |
| Mon, July 16 | Rain Date | ||
| Tues, July 17 | 6:30 | Front Royal | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Luray | |
| 7:00 | Covington | Rockbridge | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | Winchester | Haymarket | |
| 7:30 | Staunton | New Market | |
| Wed, July 18 | 7:00 | Strasburg | Winchester |
| 7:00 | Front Royal | Luray | |
| 7:00 | New Market | Covington | |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | Woodstock | Haymarket | |
| 7:30 | Staunton | Harrisonburg | |
| Thurs, July 19 | 6:30 | Winchester | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Luray | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Waynesboro | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Haymarket | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | Covington | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Harrisonburg | Staunton | |
| Fri, July 20 | 7:00 | Strasburg | Luray |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Covington | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | Front Royal | Haymarket | |
| 7:30 | Winchester | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | Rockbridge | New Market | |
| Sat, July 21 | 6:30 | Woodstock | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Front Royal | Winchester | |
| 7:00 | Staunton | Rockbridge | |
| 7:00 | Covington | Waynesboro | |
| 7:30 | New Market | Harrisonburg | |
| 7:30 | Luray | Haymarket | |
| Sun, July 22 | 6:30 | Haymarket | Strasburg |
| 7:00 | Winchester | Luray | |
| 7:00 | Woodstock | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Harrisonburg | Rockbridge | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | New Market | |
| 7:30 | Covington | Staunton | |
| Mon, July 23 | 7:00 | Haymarket | Winchester |
| 7:00 | Strasburg | Front Royal | |
| 7:00 | Rockbridge | Covington | |
| 7:30 | Luray | Woodstock | |
| 7:30 | New Market | Staunton | |
| 7:30 | Waynesboro | Harrisonburg | |
The AFP on WREL: Baseball fever
AFP editor Chris Graham talks sports on WREL’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.” Today’s podcast focuses on sports – and begins with a look at the stretch drive in the Valley League. Is Harrisonburg, ranked #6 in the country in summer baseball, the clear team to beat? Chris thinks so, but also thinks that anything can happen in the final weeks of the summer season.
The attention then shifts to big-league baseball and the NFL. The big question of the day being – will we have an NFL season in 2011?
The AFP on WREL: Around the diamond
AFP editor Chris Graham talks baseball – Valley League, Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles – on WREL-1450AM’s “Online with JIm Bresnahan.”
The AFP on WREL: World Series or bust
AFP editor Chris Graham talks sports with WREL-1450AM’s “Online with Jim Bresnahan.”
The segment is baseball-intense, for good reason. #1 UVa. is in Omaha aiming for the school’s first College World Series crown. Can the Cavs do it?
A tour around the Valley League wraps us up. The big question in the Valley: Can we get a game in with all the rain we’ve had of late?
Safe at Home now available as e-book
The New Market Rebels of the Valley Baseball League are pleased to announce that Safe at Home: A Season in the Valley, a non-fiction work about the 2009 Rebels’s squad, is now available as an e-book.
“I’m excited about offering Safe at Home in this format,” says author Austin Gisriel. “Publishing is changing rapidly and it is important for authors to change with it in order to offer their readers the best experience possible.”
Safe at Home is available for the Kindle, Apple, Barnes & Noble, Sony, and Kobo readers among others and the book may be ordered through the Kindle Store or Smashwords.com. Amazon offers a free Kindle application for your PC, Mac, iPhone, Blackberry, iPad, Android, or Windows 7 phone. The e-book retails for $2.99.
Each chapter contains a link to the Safe at Home on-line photo album where Melissa Dodge’s outstanding photographs that appeared in the printed version may be viewed in full color.
The book was printed in paperback form by Augusta Free Press Publishing LLC, the parent company of AugustaFreePress.com.
Gisriel’s next e-publishing project also involves the Valley League. A 30 year retrospective tentatively entitled “The Glorious Summer,” the lengthy article focuses on the 1981 season in which New Market and the Winchester Royals battled for the Valley League crown. The Rebels boasted three future major leaguers that year in Tom Browning, John Kruk, and Dan Pasqua, but it was Winchester that had the season of a lifetime. Plans currently call for this e-article to be offered at no charge.
The AFP on WREL: News and politics on tap
Posted by afp on June 24, 2011 · Leave a Comment
The segment begins with coverage of the announcement tour of State Del. Ben Cline, R-Rockbridge, who is running for re-election in the 24th House District this fall. The discussion then turns to sports, specifically #1 UVa.’s must-win game against South Carolina in the College World Series. Can the Cavs overcome the challenge from last year’s national champions?
Filed under Blogs · Tagged with afp on wrel, chris graham, college baseball, college world series, jim bresnahan, uva. baseball, valley league