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Nesselrodt heads list of Valley League honorees

Chris Graham

Item by Chris Graham
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Lawrence Nesselrodt could get used to this.

The Waynesboro coach was named the Valley League Coach of the Year for the third straight season after leading the Generals to a 30-14 regular-season mark, the Southern Division title and a second-round appearance in the 2008 Valley League playoffs.

Winchester designated hitter Tyler Townsend (Florida International) was named the league’s most valuable player after leading the Valley with a .387 batting average and .500 on-base percentage and finishing second in the league with a .739 slugging percentage. Townsend hit 12 home runs, drove in 36 and scored 40 runs in ’08.

Waynesboro second baseman Brandon Sizemore (College of Charleston) was among three Generals named to the 2008 All-League first team after finishing second in the league in batting average (.377) and on-base percentage (.469) and leading the league in slugging (.746) while hitting 10 homers and driving in 34 runs.

Teammate Adam Liberatore (Tennessee Tech) led the Valley in earned run average in the regular season and finished third including postseason play with a 1.36 ERA. Waynesboro shortstop Gabriel Saade (Duke) was also named to the team after hitting .327 and stealing 17 bases.

Staunton placed three players on the first team – South Alabama pitcher Lance Baxter (six wins, 1.26 ERA, 53 Ks in 50 IP), Middle Tennessee State first baseman Blake McDade (.301 BA, 42 RBI), and Old Dominion outfielder Max Most (.339 BA, 24 RBI).

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Chris Graham

Chris Graham

Chris Graham is the founder and editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1994 alum of the University of Virginia, Chris is the author and co-author of seven books, including Poverty of Imagination, a memoir published in 2019. For his commentaries on news, sports and politics, go to his YouTube page, TikTok, BlueSky, or subscribe to Substack or his Street Knowledge podcast. Email Chris at [email protected].