10/24/2006 – Valley Baseball League News

HARRISONBURG, Va., Oct. 24, 2006 – Two former Valley Baseball League stars are currently displaying the VBL’s consistent flow of talent to Major League Baseball’s largest stage, The World Series. The two VBL alumni include David Eckstein of the St. Louis Cardinals and Brandon Inge of the Detroit Tigers. Eckstein, a two-time National League All-Star, batted .292, hit 18 doubles, and scored 68 runs during the 2006 regular season. The Cardinals’ lead-off man has impacted the postseason this year by already stealing four bases, scoring four runs, and hitting a home run. Eckstein played for the Harrisonburg Turks in 1995 and 1996. Inge, the Tiger’s starting third baseman, batted .253, hit 27 homeruns, and collected 83 RBI’s this season. In the playoffs, Inge is hitting .235 and already knocked in three runs with a double and one home run for Detroit. He played for the Waynesboro Generals in 1996. A third former VBL standout, Mike Maroth played for the Tigers this season, but did not make the postseason roster for Detroit. In 2006, Maroth pitched in 12 games earning a record of 5-2 with an ERA of 4.19. He played for the Staunton Braves in 1996 and 1997. Another VBL alumnus, Roberto Hernandez, played in the 2006 postseason with the New York Mets. He pitched seven outs during the National League Championship series and did not allow a hit. Hernandez, who played for Front Royal in the VBL, has pitched for eight teams during his 16-year MLB career. He has over 900 strikeouts in his career with an ERA of 3.32.