Before we get to our top reliever in the 2017 Valley League season, Purcellville’s Thomas Sutera, let’s take a quick look at previous pitchers who topped this list:
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2016- Zach Neff, Waynesboro
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2015- Patrick Wiseman, Harrisonburg
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2014- Reece Karalus, Aldie
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2013- Adam Zipko, New Market
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2012- Shay Maltese, Haymarket
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2011- Patrick Christensen, Harrisonburg
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2010- Zach Blatt, Luray
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2009- Brian Burgess, New Market
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2008- Dan Gentzler, New Market
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2007- Jimmy Stanley, Waynesboro
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Our #1 reliever has a pretty impressive mix of performance and projectivity- not only did he dominate Valley League batters over the summer, but he has a bright future as well.
Nicknamed “Human Noodle,” Sutera, from Siena, put up the following stat line from the regular season and playoffs:
| Pur | ERA | W | L | G | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | BAVG | WIP | BB/9 | K/9 |
| 2017 | 1.57 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 3 | 34.3 | 26 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 39 | 0.210 | 1.050 | 2.6 | 10.2 |
| Play | 0.00 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 0.0 | 24.8 |
Sutera clearly did more over more innings than anyone else. He bookended amazing appearances; in his first game, June 3rd against New Market, Thomas threw 3 shutout innings, allowing only 1 hit, 0 walks, and struck out 6. In his last appearance, July 30th, in the playoffs against Winchester, he crushed the Royals over 4 innings, not allowing a single hit or walk, and striking out 11. (11! He struck out 11 of the 12 batters he faced!)
He was also named:
- Valley League Pitcher of the Year
- First team All-Valley League at relief pitcher
- Baseball America’s 3rd best prospect in the entire league, combining hitters and pitchers
- Perfect Game’s 6th best prospect in the entire league as well
Thomas is a current junior at Siena; here are his stats for his first two years:
| Siena | ERA | W | L | G | SV | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | WIP | BB/9 | K/9 |
| 2016 | 7.58 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 19.0 | 37 | 20 | 16 | 7 | 13 | 2.316 | 3.3 | 6.2 |
| 2017 | 6.39 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 25.3 | 41 | 25 | 18 | 7 | 16 | 1.897 | 2.5 | 5.7 |
Sutera also pitched in the Perfect Game Collegiate Summer League in 2016, where he went 2-4, 3.11 in 46 1/3 innings pitched. He also finished his summer throwing 3 1/3 innings in the Cape Cod League for the Chatham Anglers. He’s smart, too; he was named to the MAAC Academic Honor Roll both in both 2016 and 2017.
Congratulations on your excellent summer, Thomas, and good luck this spring at Siena, and in the draft come June!
All Things Valley League 