Photo Credit: Michael Terndrup (Eyster), Emma Sharon (Weatherbee)

New Market outfielder Andrew Eyster, Charlottesville pitcher Jared Wetherbee and Covington coach Alex Kotheimer took home the major awards as the VBL announced its 2018 All-League teams.

The All-VBL teams are chosen by a vote of team and media representatives across the Valley. Eyster was the 2018 MVP, while Wetherbee earned Pitcher of the Year honors. Kotheimer was the Maynard “Mo” Weber Manager of the Year.

Eyster (University of South Carolina) led the VBL in batting average (.421), slugging (.781) and on-base percentage (.511). His nine homers were second in the league, and he knocked in 35 runs in 32 games.

Eyster knocked in 10 runs over a three-game stretch at the turn of the month, including a 5-for-5 performance with five RBIs vs. Waynesboro. He knocked in three runs on the final day of the regular season vs. Purcellville, helping New Market finish tied for second in the North standings.

Wetherbee, a CAA All-Rookie selection at Elon, went 3-1 with a 1.06 ERA this summer. He struck out 44 batters in just 25.1 innings, walking 14 and only allowing seven hits.

Wetherbee struck out four in two perfect innings to earn the win vs. New Market in late June. He allowed just one hit in two dominant late season starts vs. Staunton (nine K’s) and Winchester (eight K’s), although he took a no-decision in both contests.

Kotheimer led a 12-win turnaround in Covington this summer, as the Jacks went from last place in the South to pennant winners with the league’s best record (26-16). Covington swept Harrisonburg in the first round of the playoffs and will host the South finals on Sunday.

Staunton catcher William Simoneit was a first team selection. The infield included home run leader JD Mundy (Covington) at first base, Harrisonburg’s Austin Embler at second base, Jacks shortstop Bennett Hostetler and Staunton third baseman Trey Jacobs.

A New Market offense that has been red-hot in the postseason featured four All-VBL selections, including first teamers Eyster and Oraj Anu. The pair was joined in the outfield by Waynesboro’s Chase Cheek. Charlottesville’s Dom D’Alessandro, whose 48 RBIs tied for the league lead with Mundy, was the first team DH, and Front Royal reliever Rob Griswold (.367 batting in 17 games) earned the utility spot.

The first team pitching staff included Harrisonburg’s Kyle Arjona, Front Royal’s Gabriel Ponce, Waynesboro’s Fred Villarreal and Wetherbee. The first team reliever spots went to Purcellville Cannons closer Anthony Zimmerman and New Market’s Trevin Eubanks.

The only repeat All-VBL selection this year was voted at a different position. Second team 3B selection Chase Sudduth was a 2nd team honoree at 2B last year in New Market.

2018 ALL-VALLEY LEAGUE TEAM

Most Valuable Player: Andrew Eyster, New Market
Pitcher of the Year: Jared Wetherbee, Charlottesville
Coach of the Year: Alex Kotheimer, Covington

1ST TEAM
C: William Simoneit, Staunton, Cornell University (.340, 4 HR, 15 RBI)
1B: JD Mundy, Covington, Virginia Tech (.353, 14 HR, 48 RBI)
2B: Austin Embler, Harrisonburg, North Carolina- Greensboro (.388, 4 HR, 23 RBI)
SS: Bennett Hostetler, Covington, North Dakota State (.353, 1 HR, 21 RBI)
3B: Trey Jacobs, Staunton, North Carolina- Pembroke (.376, 8 HR, 37 RBI)
OF: Oraj Anu, New Market, Wallace CC (.358, 8 HR, 26 RBI)
OF: Chase Cheek, Waynesboro, Duke University (.394, 1 HR, 19 RBI)
OF: Andrew Eyster, New Market, University of South Carolina (.421, 9 HR, 35 RBI)
DH: Dom D’Alessandro, Charlottesville, George Washington University (.324, 6 HR, 48 RBI)
UTIL: Rob Griswold, Front Royal, Long Island University (.367, 0 HR, 6 RBI; 0-3, 1.40 ERA, 13 K, 4 SV)
SP: Kyle Arjona, Harrisonburg, University of New Orleans (3-1, 1.31 ERA, 33 K)
SP: Gabriel Ponce, Front Royal, University of San Diego (3-0, 2.27 ERA, 32 K)
SP: Fred Villarreal, Waynesboro, University of Houston (1-2, 2.66 ERA, 34 K)
SP: Jared Wetherbee, Charlottesville, Elon University (3-1, 1.07 ERA, 44 K)
RP: Trevin Eubanks, New Market, University of Southern Mississippi (2-0, 1.50 ERA, 36 K, 0 SV)
RP: Anthony Zimmerman, Purcellville, Fordham University (3-0, 0.55 ERA, 33 K, 7 SV)

2ND TEAM
C: Ryan Hogan, Strasburg, St. John’s University (.333, 3 HR, 16 RBI)
1B: Andrew Burden, Front Royal, Piedmont College (.385, 5 HR, 32 RBI)
2B: Eric Jones, Covington, Gardner-Webb University (.300, 3 HR, 14 RBI)
SS: Kobe Lopez, New Market, Florida International University (.307, 0 HR, 15 RBI)
3B: Chase Sudduth, New Market, University of North Georgia (.339, 4 HR, 33 RBI)
OF: Jonathan Butler, Winchester, North Carolina State (.351, 1 HR, 14 RBI)
OF: Eric Conner, Staunton, Walsh University (.301, 5 HR, 21 RBI)
OF: Spencer Packard, Front Royal, Arizona Western College (.349, 4 HR, 20 RBI)
DH: Colton Schultz, Strasburg, Alabama- Birmingham (.352, 3 HR, 30 RBI)
UTIL: Tyler Bielamowicz, Waynesboro, University of Houston (.228, 1 HR, 11 RBI; 1-2, 3.07 ERA, 35 K)
SP: Chase Best, Covington, Lawson State CC (6-3, 3.38 ERA, 39 K)
SP: Dylan Gentry, Winchester, Coastal Carolina University (1-1, 1.18 ERA, 25 K)
SP: Chance Hroch, Strasburg, New Mexico State (2-1, 2.91 ERA, 33 K)
SP: Evan McAndrew, Covington, Mansfield University (4-1, 2.65 ERA, 39 K)
RP: Matt Blair, Front Royal, Mercer University (2-0, 0.84 ERA, 36 K, 1 SV)
RP: Dalton Oates, Purcellville, Shippensburg University (3-0, 0.61 ERA, 39 K, 0 SV)