Organization Details

  • Last VBL title- 2014, the second of back-to-back titles
  • General Manager- Tyler Hoffman
  • Head Coach- Zac Cole, Assistant Coach at Central Florida. This will be Cole’s sixth season as a head coach in the Valley; he spent three seasons with New Market, winning a title in 2018, and three now in Waynesboro. (I spoke to Cole for the info in this article)
  • Recruiters- Hoffman and Gerald Harman. Harman has a long history of recruiting in the league, as this is his 13th overall season. He filled the role in Luray from 2004 to 2006 and 2008 to 2012, Staunton in 2007, Waynesboro in 2013, Woodstock in 2019 and 2021, and now Waynesboro again.
  • Key Alumni in Pro Ball- Connor Norby (2019) was a second-round draft pick of the Orioles in 2021, and Graham Ashcraft (2018) is in Triple-A in Cincinnati’s system.

2021 Recap

The Generals of 2021 sort of limped to the finish line in fourth place in the South Division with a 19-21 record, but took off in the playoffs, sweeping Charlottesville and knocking off Staunton in three, but eventually falling in the finals to Strasburg. The team was led at the plate by All-Star Home Run Derby champ Zach Levenson (Miami), who hit seven home runs in 83 at-bats, and Florida Gulf Coast’s Alejandro Figueredo, who had the best walk up music in the league, and would show off his dance moves in the parking lot before games (oh, and he hit .303/.382/.420 in 119 at-bats, too). On the mound, Seth Logue and Peyton Millirons led the staff.

Returners

  • Victor Castillo, Central Florida (Covington/Charlottesville 2021)
  • Daulton Montagna, East Tennessee State (2021)
  • Edrick Felix, Central Florida (Woodstock 2021)
  • Zach Kirby, East Tennessee State (2019, 2021)
  • Kasey Caras, Messiah (Front Royal 2021)
  • Nicholas Chittum, Eastern Michigan (2021)
  • Matthew Cedarburg, Mississippi (Front Royal 2019)

Key Hitters

(Stats through Monday, May 9)
  • Carmen Cali, Central Florida: .433/.521/.820 in 194 at-bats, 63 runs, 73 RBIs, 20 doubles, five triples, 15 home runs, 34/22 BB/K
  • Braden Luke, Mississippi
  • Edrick Felix: .338/.450/.662 in 207 at-bats, 64 runs, 68 RBIs, 15 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs. Felix was second-team All-Valley at shortstop in 2021.
  • Kasey Caras: .347/.465/.592 in 147 at-bats, 15 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 34/27 BB/K.
  • Victor Castillo: .383/.471/.695 in 167 at-bats, with 56 runs, 54 RBIs, 17 doubles, 11 home runs, 24/21 BB/K, he was also second team All-Valley (OF) in 2021.
  • Tyler Borges, Gulf Coast CC (South Alabama commit): .361/.461/.517 in 180 at-bats, 57 runs, eight doubles, six home runs.

Key Pitchers

  • Carson Kelly, NC State: 2-0, 3.62, 28 K’s in 27 innings
  • Elijah Pleasants, Dallas Baptist
  • Daniel Batcher, FGCU: 28 K’s in 28 innings
  • Nicholas Chittum- 1-2, 4.76, with 24 K’s in 28 innings
  • Zach Kirby- 2-2, 3.62 in 54 innings, with 15 walks and 40 K’s
  • Josh Fortenberry, Louisiana St Shreveport: 1-0, 2.57, 31 K’s in 28 innings
  • Peyton Ricko, Pasco Hernando: 3-1, 2.54, six walks and 45 K’s in 39 innings
  • Jean Toro, Faulkner: 5-2, 3.71, 15 walks and 78 K’s in 80 innings
  • Bubba Hall, Dallas Baptist: 3-2, 3.72, 47 K’s in 38 innings

Other Notes

  • Pleasants and Batcher have both been drafted before. Pleasants was picked in the 36th round in 2018 by Kansas City, and Batcher was a 33rd round pick of Toronto in 2019.
  • Remember Orlando Hernandez? El Duque? The huge leg kick on the mound for the Yankees? His son, also named Orlando, is coming to Waynesboro from Florida International.
  • One other momentous occasion will be held this summer… Coach Cole and his fiance, Kylie, are getting married on July 23!