For the second consecutive week, the Valley Baseball League has named a Harrisonburg closer as Southern Division pitcher of the week. This week, the honor goes to Shawn O’Neill.
While not in the starting rotation, O’Neill has made his presence known throughout the League thus far by leading the VBL in saves. He entered last week with two saves and picked up his third by ending an eighth inning rally from the Staunton Braves last Tuesday. He surpassed the Valley’s former saves leader, fellow Turk Joshua Karr, with a three-inning save against Covington just two days later.
O’Neill also pitched over four innings of relief yesterday, June 18, in a loss toWaynesboro. He fired three strikeouts, and totaled nine throughout the week.
Shawn, a La Salle University upperclassman, has now pitched 19 innings on the season. He has given up just two runs on nine hits. His ERA is a paltry .95, good for sixth best among all Valley League pitchers.