8/3/05 – Valley Baseball League News

Murphy, Bocock Highlight 2005 Valley Baseball League Awards Luray third baseman Daniel Murphy (Jacksonville) led the VBL in hits, runs, and doubles. (Courtesy Jacksonville University) Luray third baseman Daniel Murphy earned Most Valuable Player honors and head coach Mike Bocock captured Coach of the Year as the Wranglers swept the 2005 Valley Baseball League awards as announced by the league on Tuesday, August 2. The awards were announced in conjunction with the 2005 Valley League All-League team. Luray placed four players on the All-League squad, more than any other team. Covington placed three players on the squad while New Market and Harrisonburg had two apiece. Those four teams remain in contention for the 2005 VBL championship as the playoffs move into the second round. Murphy (Jacksonville) batted .335 with 14 doubles, three home runs, 18 stolen bases, 27 RBIs, and 39 runs scored. He led the league with 57 hits and also led the league in runs scored and doubles. He was second in stolen bases, second in total bases, third in batting average, and second in total plate appearances. Bocock, head coach at Harrisonburg High School, led the Wranglers to a 30-14 record in the regular season, the best mark in the Valley League. Luray started the season 1-5 but then put together winning streaks of six and 11 games as part of a 21-3 stretch during the middle of the season. Murphy was joined on the All-League team by fellow Wranglers short stop Doug Nelms (West Virginia), catcher Eddy Rodriguez (Miami), and starting pitcher Marcus Davis (Virginia Commonwealth). Nelms accumulated a .294 batting average with four home runs, 25 RBIs, and 33 runs scored. He led the league with nine sacrifice bunts and finished third in runs scored. Rodriguez batted .302 while scoring and knocking in 13 runs apiece. Davis had a 1.96 earned run average and a 4-0 record with 24 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. Representing the Covington Lumberjacks were first baseman Tom Hagan (Virginia), second baseman Ryan Taylor (West Virginia State), and outfielder Collin Cowgill (Kentucky). Hagan led the VBL with a .360 batting average and a .478 on-base percentage. He also had 11 stolen bases, 40 hits, and scored 24 runs. Taylor hit .312 with 11 doubles, four home runs, 33 runs scored, and 28 RBI. He ranked third in the league in runs scored, third in RBIs, second in doubles, and third in total bases. Cowgill batted .306 with seven doubles, three triples, 10 home runs, 31 runs scored, and 30 RBIs. He led the league in home runs, RBIs, slugging percentage (.604), and total bases (87). He was also fifth in runs scored and third in triples. New Market placed outfielder Eric Renfroe (Mercer) and designated hitter Chris O’Dell (Eastern Kentucky) on the All-League squad. Renfroe hit .323 with six doubles, 23 runs scored, 24 RBIs, and nine stolen bases. He finished fifth in batting average. O’Dell accumulated a .306 average with seven doubles, three home runs, 23 runs scored, and 15 RBIs. Two pitchers made the All-League squad for the Harrisonburg Turks. Starting pitcher Brad Mills (Arizona) went 5-0 with 62 strikeouts and a 1.62 ERA in 39 innings. He was second in the league in strikeouts and in pickoffs (6). Relief pitcher Chris Fessler (Yavapai J.C.) had 11 saves and a 2.95 ERA in 17 appearances. He led the VBL in saves and games finished. Also being named to the All-League team were Staunton outfielder Brandon Marsh (Young Harris), Winchester utility player Chris Fournier (George Mason), Woodstock starting pitcher Zack Duncan (Lipscomb), and Waynesboro relief pitcher Jonathan Johnston (Southern Mississippi). Marsh hit .313 with six doubles, 26 runs scored, and 25 RBIs. Fournier batted .319 with nine doubles, five home runs, 21 runs scored, 25 RBIs, and 13 steals. He was second in both slugging (.549) and on-base percentage (.462) as well as fifth in home runs. Duncan went 5-2 with a 2.18 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 57.2 innings. He was second in the VBL in ERA, fourth in innings pitched, and fifth in opponent batting average (.214). Johnston went 2-1 with five saves and a 0.30 ERA in 30.1 innings. He finished third in saves and second in appearances (20). He allowed the fewest earned runs (one) among pitchers with at least three appearances. 2005 Valley League All-League Team First Base – Tom Hagan, Covington Second Base – Ryan Taylor, Covington Third Base – Daniel Murphy, Luray Short Stop – Doug Nelms, Luray Outfield – Collin Cowgill, Covington Outfield – Brandon Marsh, Staunton Outfield – Eric Renfroe, New Market Catcher – Eddy Rodriguez, Luray Designated Hitter – Chris O’Dell, New Market Utility Player – Chris Fournier, Winchester Starting Pitcher – Marcus Davis, Luray Starting Pitcher – Zack Duncan, Woodstock Starting Pitcher – Brad Mills, Harrisonburg Relief Pitcher – Chris Fessler, Harrisonburg Relief Pitcher – Jonathan Johnston, Waynesboro 2005 Valley League Most Valuable Player – Daniel Murphy, Luray 2005 Valley League Coach of the Year – Mike Bocock, Luray