Well, here we are: finally, at the top of the list of top starting pitchers in the 2014 Valley League season!

Before we get to the choice, though, let’s take a look at previous winners:

2013: Ricky Winters, Woodstock

2012: Jansen Carr, Winchester

2011: Aaron Luchterhand, Harrisonburg

2010: Greg Nappo, Haymarket

2009: Grant Sasser, Haymarket

2008: Drew Rucinski, Luray

2007: Dustin Umberger, Luray

This year, the top two starters come from the same team, which hasn’t happened since Dustin Umberger and Rob Gilliam took the top spots in 2007.

Photo by Ken Pullen
Photo by Ken Pullen

Without further ado, the top starting pitcher in the league in 2014 is Front Royal’s Keegan Long, from St. Joseph’s! Keegan joins Jake Harper to make a tough duo at the top of the list.

The 6-foot-2 junior righthander had a fantastic season for the Cardinals. He went 4-2, 1.61, with a .205 batting average against, 1.074 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, and 8.3 K/9 in 44 2/3 innings pitched. He finished 1st in the league in ERA, 2nd in batting average against, and 3rd in WHIP. He also started and won one game in the playoffs, going 6 innings, and allowing 6 hits, 5 runs (but only 1 earned), 2 walks, and striking out 4.

Keegan’s two best starts were both in June. The first, on June 7th, was against Strasburg, when he threw 6 shutout innings and allowed only 1 hit, 1 walk, and struck out 2. The next was exactly a week later, when he shut out Winchester over 7 innings and allowed only 2 hits, 0 walks, and struck out 8. The second one earned him a game score of over 80.

In college, things have been a mixed bag thus far. As a freshman in 2013, Keegan only pitched 10 2/3 innings. As a sophomore, he went 0-4, 7.18, while allowing 31 hits, 12 walks, and striking out 20 in 26 1/3 innings.

Congratulations on your excellent season in the Valley, Keegan, and good luck this spring at St. Joseph’s!