#5 Starting Pitcher: Nick Fuchs, Woodstock

The #5 starting pitcher in the 2017 Valley League season is Woodstock’s Nick Fuchs!

Take a look at what Nick did for the River Bandits last summer:

Among the pitchers on this list, Nick finished 6th in ERA, tied for 4th in batting average, 8th in WHIP, 1st in strikeouts (in the regular season), and 1st in K/9. (Nick didn’t pitch in the playoffs, as the River Bandits did not qualify. Winchester’s Daniel Collins passed Nick in strikeouts by adding 10 in his one playoff start.)

Nick’s best start, and, actually, the best start of the entire season, was on July 1st against Purcellville, when he threw 8 innings, and allowed 4 hits, 1 unearned run, 4 walks, and struck out 11. His game score topped out at 83. He also had a game score of 74 on June 24th, also against Purcellville, when he threw 6 shutout innings while allowing 3 hits, 1 walk, and striking out 9.

Nick pitched a shutout inning in the All-Star game, and was named first team All-Valley League after the season.

Nick and I had a short conversation about college ball at the All-Star game, and he told me that he was looking to transfer from Gannon, a Division-II program in Erie, Pennsylvania. So when the news came down that Nick had chosen his next school, I was a bit surprised to hear that he is now attending Longwood, a Division I school that competes in the Big South. (To be clear, I don’t recall seeing players transfer up a level very often; most seem to transfer horizontally or down a level. And absolutely not to say that Nick doesn’t deserve it, or that he can’t compete at a higher level; I think his summer showed that he absolutely can pitch for Longwood. Maybe his summer showed Longwood, too?) Hopefully it will be the perfect place for him!

Here is what Nick did for Gannon in his first two seasons:

Congratulations on your excellent summer, Nick, and good luck in your new school!