CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Six Tom Sox players were named All-Valley League selections on Monday (August 1), tying the team record set by the 2017 team. Selected players were John Armstrong (Relief Pitcher, Auburn), Carter Cunningham (Outfield, East Carolina), Christian Martin (Second Base, Virginia Tech), Satchell Norman (Catcher, Florida Southwestern), Cole Wagner (First Base, Georgia), and Trey Yesavage (Starting Pitcher, East Carolina).
John Armstrong was named an All-Valley League selection as a relief pitcher after an incredible summer on the mound for the ‘Sox. In six appearances (one start), Armstrong did not allow a run and struck out 20 batters across 15.2 innings. He earned a 2-0 record and one save on the season. Armstrong was one of only two Valley League pitchers to throw 15+ innings and not allow an earned run, the other being Woodstock’s Stephen Pena. He was known for his submarine delivery on the mound, consistently deceiving hitters with his wipeout slider and high velocity.
Carter Cunningham was named All-Valley League as an outfielder after putting up one of the best seasons in Tom Sox history. In 102 at bats so far this season, Cunningham has a .422 batting average (2nd in Tom Sox history), .637 slugging percentage (2nd), .479 on-base percentage (3rd), 28 runs (9th), 28 RBI (9th), 11 doubles (7th), and 65 total bases (10th). He has struck out only 11 times in 102 at bats on the year. If he qualified for the league batting average leaderboard – he currently sits four plate appearances short of doing so – he would lead the league in both batting average and slugging percentage. He was named a VBL All-Star in July.
Christian Martin was named as an All-Valley League selection at second base after a similarly dominant season to Cunningham. Since debuting on June 23, Martin has a .408 batting average (4th in Tom Sox history), .602 slugging percentage (3rd), .500 on-base percentage (1st), 34 runs (T-3rd), 7 doubles, 3 home runs, and a 17-11 walk to strikeout ratio. He falls one plate appearance short of the league leaderboard but would be second in the VBL in on-base percentage if he qualified. He was also named a VBL All-Star in July.
Satchell Norman was one of the most consistent hitters in the Tom Sox lineup before being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers on July 19. Norman posted a .319 average in 91 at-bats (7th in the VBL) with 21 runs, 19 RBI, eight doubles, two home runs, and 21 walks to only ten strikeouts. He posted nine total bases to help lead the Tom Sox to a July 4 win over the Waynesboro Generals, the most by a Tom Sox player this season and tied for the second-most by a ‘Sox player all-time.
Cole Wagner was named an All-VBL selection as a first baseman after putting up an MVP-caliber season on the field. He leads the team with a .368 batting average (5th in team history), .588 slugging percentage (4th), and .467 on-base percentage (4th) among qualified players. His 16 doubles rank second to only Michael Wielansky in team history and his 37 RBI are tied for third. 34 of those RBI came in the regular season, which led the VBL. He leads the team with 19 multi-hit games on the year and has reached base in all 36 games he has played in, setting a new team record. He has walked 22 times – the same number of times he has struck out – while hitting four home runs, tied for the sixth-most by a player in team history.
Trey Yesavage was named an All-Valley League starting pitcher after showing utter dominance on the mound. In six appearances (five starts), Yesavage has a 1.80 ERA in 25 innings, striking out 32 and walking nine. He owns two of the team’s top three strikeout performances on the year, striking out eight against Strasburg on July 19 and seven in a team-high seven innings against Covington on July 28. He has not allowed an earned run over his last three appearances (15 innings) while striking out 18 and walking four over the span.
The All-Valley League teams were voted on by a poll of coaches and media members. Each voted on their own divisions only, and coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players. For the first time, the Valley League decided to split voting of the North and South divisions, meaning there are two Most Valuable Players and Pitchers along with a first team All-Division team. Defensive teams will be released later.
Harrisonburg’s Seaver King was named the South Division’s Most Valuable Player, while Waynesboro’s Kelsey Ward was named the South Division Pitcher of the Year. Purcellville’s Ryne Guida and Woodstock’s Kelan Hoover were named North Division MVP and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. Woodstock’s Mike Bocock – a Valley League Hall of Famer – was named the Valley League’s Maynard “Mo” Weber Manager of the Year.
