If you threw half a dozen darts at the Harrisonburg Turks roster, you might hit six different states.

The 2012 Turks are quite literally an All-American team, comprised of young men spanning the country from Massachusetts to Florida and California all the way back to some home-grown Virginians. A city with the small-town charms of Harrisonburg might seem like an odd place to find some of the best young talent in the nation, but being located right in the heart of ACC country will do that to you.

Despite JMU’s proximity to Harrisonburg, this story starts with the big boys of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Of the 28 Turks slated to play in 2012, over 40% come from ACC schools like Duke and Georgia Tech,  whose season has yet to end after a four game sweep through the ACC tournament. (The Yellow Jackets now have a June 1 date with the College of Charleston in a double-elimination Gainesville regional.) It’s the storied baseball prowess of the ACC that allows it to bring in players from all over the country, like Wake Forest players John McLeod (Renton, WA) and Chris Willson (West Covina, CA). Both players find themselves in the 2012 Turks pitching rotation, as well.

But it isn’t just nearby ACC talent that comprises this team. A handful of Texas San Antonio players give the roster a small dose of the former Republic. The University of Auburn leases out a couple of Alabama natives, while Fordham covers the Northeast with two players from Massachusetts. Illinois, Indiana, Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania—all these and more are represented on the 2012 Turks roster.

All of these young men find themselves here in the valley this summer. Whether you’re from Elkton, VA or Elk Grove, CA, one thing seems certain. It’s not about where you’ve been; it’s about where you’re going.

All of these young men find themselves here in the valley this summer. Whether you’re from Elkton, VA or Elk Grove, CA, one thing seems certain. It’s not about where you’ve been; it’s about where you’re going. This summer, the only place the Turks will be going is up and down the I81 corridor in pursuit of winning the Valley League Championship!