For the last two months I have put over 2,500 miles on my car, devoured nearly 100 hot dogs and poured a metric ton of Berry Blue Gatorade into my gut while traveling up and down the state of Virginia covering the #5 ranked collegiate summer team in the nation the Waynesboro Generals.It seems this season has just flown by -- like a Daniel Wiltz fast ball or Gabriel Saade on the base path -- you probably have no idea what the means or who they are (you will someday.)
The season started off rocky, at 5-4 and in the middle of the pack it didn't seem that the 2007 defending Valley League Champs were going to repeat.
Then like the ball off Brandon Sizemore's bat the season took off.
Waynesboro won 25 of their next 35 games and finished the regular season with the best overall record at 30-14. Good enough to capture the #1 seed and home field advantage for the playoffs.
2008 had it's up and downs -- luckily, many more ups than downs -- the Generals defeated the then number one ranked team in the nation, the Vienna Senators of the Clark Griffith League, 1-0 in ten innings back on July 15th.
An 8-7 victory of the then ranked number three Luray Wranglers on Monday evening was icing on the cake, and a beautiful win which capped off a miraculous regular season.
Note: Although their records were nearly identical, and Waynesboro was 4-0 in head-to-head games against the Wranglers, for some unexplainable and quite annoying reason the Generals were always ranked lower in PGCrosscheckers.com top 16 summer teams Until this week!
So as the regular season comes to an end, and the playoffs get rollin' (Waynesboro won game one of the opening round 4-1 over the Haymarket Senators) I've decided to take a look back, and hand out awards to the players that have made my summer so remarkable -- and give them something back -- a Sean "Hollywood*" Youngberg Distinguished Award for Excellence.
*Hollywood was a nickname given to me during the season which I only use at times to make myself feel cool and at times arrogant.
This is the first time these prestigious awards have ever been handed out, so it is without further adieu that I announce the Sean "Hollywood*" Youngberg Distinguished Awards for Excellence to the following Waynesboro Generals players.
Mr. Clutch: Evan Webb, 3b, Tennessee Tech. Webb or Webby as he is more popularly known in these parts has been Mr. Reliable all season long for the Generals. He is the only player on the roster -- and only one of two in the entire league -- who started, and played in all 44 regular season games.
Since opening day and throughout the season he has been a force to be reckoned with at the plate, and a consistent as they come at the hot corner.
He was one of two Generals to get automatic bids to the Valley League All-Star game, where he was the starting third basemen for the South.
His .299 batting average was 5th best on the team; however, in every other major offensive category Webby was in the top three. In 177 plate appearances (tops) he belted six home runs (2nd best), 53 hits (tops), put up 39 RBIs (tops), drew 21 walks (third), collected 80 total bases (tops) and came across to score 31 times (t-1st).
Webb is the glue that holds the team together. He's a solid fielder, a player who hits for average, and always finds a way to come through when he is needed. He has battled through injuries and put it all on the line night in and night out-he's played every inning of every game --that's why Evan Webb is Mr. Clutch, an award I view as just as important and crucial to a team's success as MVP.
Other nominees: Brandon Sizemore 2b, Adam Liberatore P, and Mark Dvoroznak OF.
MVP: Brandon Sizemore, 2b, College of Charleston. Brandon Sizemore is to the Waynesboro Generals what Babe Ruth is to the New York Yankees and Cal Ripken Jr. is to the Baltimore Orioles. A fan favorite who may just be the best player to ever wear that teams uniform
B-Size is a third year General, and a fan favorite if you've ever seen one. He is loved by his fans and loathed by other teams for his stellar defense and potent offense.
How clutch is Sizemore? Well he won this award before he hit two home runs in the regular season finale agains
t the #3 ranked Luray Wranglers to capture the regular season championship that propelled Waynesboro into the #1 seed and gave them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs? Wait did you say TWO home runs?
Yes! A solo shot in the top of the 9th that tied the game at 6 and sent the teams into extra innings. In the top of the 11th with a man on and one out -- you guessed it -- Sizemore unloaded a two run shot (that might still be rolling) which put the Generals ahead for good.
Sizemore went out for nearly two weeks with bruised heels (although the team went 6-1) his offensive numbers were clearly missed.
In his second pitch hit performance since coming back from injury Sizemore was thrusted into the spotlight.
It was a 5-5 game against arch-division rival the Staunton Braves, with the bases loaded, and one out it was up to B-Size to get it down. All it took was one pitch -- a chin high fastball -- that was sailing into left field and cleared the bases. Waynesboro went on to win the game 8-5, and the loss put the Braves on the back burner as Waynesboro was able to capture their second consecutive South Division title less than a week later.
What hasn't Sizemore done on offense? His .394 batting average, 9 home runs, .779 slugging percentage, .488 on base percentage are all tops on the team. He's 14/14 in stolen base attempts and has scored 31 times, which is tied for best on the team. He's second in doubles, triples, and RBIs.
He puts fans into the stands, strikes fear into his opponents, and turns down offers from Major League teams because rumor has it he's going to be a top 10 rated second basemen in the country next season. Yeah, that has MVP written all over it.
Other nominees: Evan Webb 3b, Gabriel Saade SS, and Adam Liberatore P.
MVPitcher: Adam Liberatore, LHP, Tennessee Tech. All I have to do is reel off his stats and that's all it will take to convince you that this guy is the real deal.
In eight starts Liberatore went 6-0 with an ERA of 1.15 -- the second best ERA in the league for any starter --opposing hitters couldn't even see what he was throwing, opponents batted a measly .170 against him on the season.
In 54.2 innings of work Lib struck out 48 or 1.1 batters per inning. He allowed only 11 runs on the season, 7 of which were earned. Of the 194 batters the southpaw faced this season only eighteen were able to draw walks --and only once did the pride and joy of Monaca, PA give up a home run.
Liberatore was tagged as the opening starter in the playoffs against Haymarket --and should've had his 7th win of the year-- however his 1 run and 3 hit performance in 7.1 innings was only good enough to earn him a no decision -- as he was only given one run of support.
To best sum up how valuable he has been all season I will quote an opposing manager, " Damn it, we've already faced him (Liberatore) we know he can beat us, hell he could beat us throwing blind folded."
He's that good.
Other nominees: Andy Altemus RHP 7-1 ,3.41 era; Jared Dobbs 4-1, 1.05 era; Kaleb Fleck 2-0, 22 Ks in 20.1 innings pitched; and Jake Cowan 4-2, 1 CG, 44 ks in 37 innings pitched.
Defensive Stud: Ryan Adams, 1b, Elon University. Defensively there are few better at first base in all of collegiate summer ball than Ryan "Chili" Adams.
Adams was originally slated into the Generals lineup as the DH to improve on the stagnant offense early in the season his .432 OBP and 33 walks (three times Adams has drawn 3 or more walks in a game) quickly caught the attention of the Waynesboro coaching staff, soon it was obvious that this kid needed a spot in the everyday lineup. But where?
First base that's where. Adams became the corner stone for an infield that had committed 24 errors in the first ten games.
Adams has only been responsible for 5 errors in 259 attempts, a .981 fielding percentage that is second best on the team behind catcher Austin Morgan.
At 5-11, 200 lbs. Adams is short and stalky but nimble. What truly makes him a 'Defensive Stud' is his ability to jump, dive, layout, and suck up the ball like a cat fish in mud. You'd have to see him play to truly understand how his defensive abilities have saved big innings, and help get the Generals to where they currently stand.
Other nominees: Austin Morgan C, Brandon Sizemore 2b, and Grant Buckner OF.
The Impactuator (impact player of the year): Gabriel Saade, SS, Duke. The Generals can thank their lucky stars that Gabriel "whas up?" Saade (pronounced saw-d, kinda like shor-ty) fell into their laps.
Saade was cut from the Cape Cod league after his team realized they had a surplus of incredibly talented shortstops. At the same time the Generals were trying to cope with the loss of their all-star shortstop Jacke Healy, who left the team after the all-star break.
WA-LA! He wants to play, we need a shortstop, see where I'm going with this?
Saade joined the Generals on June 30, and you couldn't have asked for a better coming out party. The new kid on the block lit up the scene in his first game, going 4 for 4 with 3 RBIs, 2 runs, a walk, 2 stolen bases and a bases clearing triple that made the game a no doubter. The Generals won 10-4 and Saade solidified himself as the everyday shortstop.
In 20 games Saade has been with the team, the Generals have gone 13-7. Not too shabby, but what's truly impressive is the way that he performed when Brandon Sizemore went down for nearly two weeks. The speedster from Duke played nearly flawless defense in the middle infield, hit for power (2 hr) and average (.333) and the Generals were able to survive the 'B-Size Scare of '08' by going 6-1.
Saade has been a leadoff hitter coaches dream about. He has 27 hits out of the top spot, and on base percentage of .449. When he gets on (which he usually does) he has scorched teams going 14-14 in stolen base attempts.
With Saade in the lineup the Generals have one of the most lethal 1-2 punches in all of the Valley League, a combo that one Valley League coach said is, "Just plain scary."
Other nominees: Austin Morgan C, Brandon Sizemore 2b, and Andy Altemus RHP.
Well there it is, the 2008 Sean "Hollywood" Youngberg Distinguished Awards for Excellence, hope you enjoyed the show sports fans, until the next pitch, good night!
The Waynesboro Generals are made up of players from Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Florida, Virginia, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Georgia and Louisiana. The players come from all across the country to play summer ball, some knew one another before the season started, but many did not.
They have come together to form the 5th best collegiate summer team in the nation -- and they're not done yet -- this team won't be satisfied until they hoist the Jim Limeweaver trophy one more time.
The Waynesboro Generals are currently in the midst of the 2008 playoffs, and are looking to become the first team since the 2003 & 2004 Winchester Royals to win back-to-back Valley League championships.
Waynesboro will be in Haymarket tomorrow night to take on the Senators in game 2 of the best of 3 series. The game will start at 7:30 and can be heard on ESPN 1240 "The Boss" or online. Game 3 if necessary will be on Thursday at Kate Collins Field in Waynesboro, VA.
Voting for these awards was done anonymously and fairly, by a committee of me, Sean "Hollywood" Youngberg. Questions, comments, or concerns you can reach me at SAYoungberg@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment