Sterry, Valdes highlight 2016 All-Valley League Team

Waynesboro first baseman Zach Sterry and Front Royal pitcher Erne Valdes were the major award winners as the VBL announced its 2016 All-League teams.

Sterry took home Most Valuable Player honors after leading the league in homers (13), doubles (14), RBIs (41) and slugging percentage (.734). Along with his power hitting numbers, he still ranked fourth in the VBL with a .350 batting average.

The Oakland University player has kept it rolling in the postseason, with a grand slam and two home runs in a sweep of Staunton in the quarterfinals.

Valdes was 2-1 with an ERA of 1.04 in six starts this summer. He struck out 45 batters in 34.2 innings pitched while allowing just 16 hits, 13 walks and four earned runs.

The St. Thomas starter led the league’s top-ranked pitching staff, with Front Royal topping the VBL by a wide margin in team ERA (3.23) and opposing batting average (.217). Overall, four Cardinal pitchers were named to the All-League team, including a tie between Jacob Ramos and Brandon Valentin for the final second team reliever spot.

Joining Sterry on the first team was Waynesboro catcher T.J. Condon, New Market second baseman Chase DeMars, Harrisonburg shortstop Tripp Shelton, Woodstock third baseman Nick Ward, outfielders Tanner Poole (Waynesboro), Jonathan Pryor (Harrisonburg) and Zac Wiley (Front Royal), designated hitter Brandon Quaranta (Strasburg) and Woodstock outfielder/pitcher Danton Hyman in the utility spot.

The first team pitching rotation featured Valdes, Corey Childress (Harrisonburg) and Strasburg hurlers Benjamin Dum and Peyton Plumlee. First team relievers were Covington’s Nicholas Purpera and Purcellville’s Will Reed, who combined for 16 saves and five victories between the two of them.

South pennant winner Waynesboro led all teams with six selections, including second team pitchers Vince Braman, Campbell Scholl and Zach Neff. North pennant holders Strasburg (who featured first baseman Dylan Ingram and third baseman Carter Pharis on the second team) had five selections, but also enters the postseason with six All-League performers after the late-season pickup of former Woodstock outfielder Jacob Tisevich.

Covington infielder Jose Carrera was named to the second team, which was his third consecutive All-Valley League honor.

 

2016 ALL-VALLEY LEAGUE TEAM

Most Valuable Player: Zach Sterry, Waynesboro
Pitcher of the Year: Erne Valdes, Front Royal

1ST TEAM
C: T.J. Condon, Waynesboro, Faulkner (.307, 3 HR, 15 RBI)
1B: Zach Sterry, Waynesboro, Oakland (.350, 13 HR, 41 RBI)
2B: Chase DeMars, New Market, South Carolina (.336, 5 HR, 27 RBI)
SS: Tripp Shelton, Harrisonburg, UNC-Greensboro (.329, 5 HR, 24 RBI)
3B: Nick Ward, Woodstock, West Chester (.387, 5 HR, 24 RBI)
OF: Tanner Poole, Waynesboro, Mississippi State (.333, 6 HR, 27 RBI)
OF: Jonathan Pryor, Harrisonburg, Wake Forest (.358, 1 HR, 26 RBI)
OF: Zac Wiley, Front Royal, Bellarmine (.303, 6 HR, 22 RBI)
DH: Brandon Quaranta, Strasburg, Philadelphia (.375, 6 HR, 24 RBI)
UTIL: Danton Hyman, Woodstock, Newberry (.360, 0 HR, 13 RBI; 0-2, 4.50 ERA, 11 K)
SP: Corey Childress, Harrisonburg, Troy (6-2, 2.87 ERA, 52 K)
SP: Benjamin Dum, Strasburg, VCU (4-0, 1.42 ERA, 32 K)
SP: Peyton Plumlee, Strasburg, Mississippi State (5-0, 2.45 ERA, 30 K)
SP: Erne Valdes, Front Royal, St. Thomas (2-1, 1.03 ERA, 45 K)
RP: Nicholas Purpera, Covington, Cumberlands (1-0, 0.45 ERA, 19 K, 9 SV)
RP: Will Reed, Purcellville, Harford CC (4-1, 0.81 ERA, 35 K, 7 SV)

2ND TEAM
C: Fabian Pena, Covington, Manhattan (.282, 4 HR, 20 RBI)
1B: Dylan Ingram, Strasburg, Auburn (.319, 7 HR, 30 RBI)
2B: Jose Carrera, Covington, Manhattan (.256, 3 HR, 16 RBI)
SS: Raul Cabrera, Purcellville, Miami Dade CC (.326, 2 HR, 17 RBI)
3B: Carter Pharis, Strasburg, Alabama-Birmingham (.342, 5 HR, 30 RBI)
OF: Ray Hernandez, Purcellville, Alabama State (.313, 4 HR, 21 RBI)
OF: Jacob Tisevich, Woodstock, Southern Arkansas (.282, 5 HR, 27 RBI)
OF: Brandon Vicens, Covington, Miami Dade-Kendall (.289, 4 HR, 22 RBI)
DH: Greg Popatak II, Harrisonburg, George Mason (.264, 9 HR, 27 RBI)
UTIL: Trevor Jensen, Winchester, St. Petersburg (.275, 2 HR, 20 RBI)
SP: Vince Braman, Waynesboro, St. Mary’s (5-0, 3.37 ERA, 22 K)
SP: Terrell McCall, New Market, Alabama State (3-0, 1.60 ERA, 39 K)
SP: Campbell Scholl, Waynesboro, Central Florida (2-0, 1.03 ERA, 13 K)
SP: Stephen Xirinachs, Front Royal, UMASS-Lowell (5-2, 2.73 ERA, 33 K)
RP: Zach Neff, Waynesboro, Austin Peay (4-1, 1.08 ERA, 18 K, 1 SV)
RP: Jacob Ramos, Front Royal, Shorter (2-1, 1.00 ERA, 28 K, 0 SV)
RP: Brandon Valentin, Front Royal, St. Thomas (0-1, 0.76 ERA, 18 K, 2 SV)