In our second Elite Eight matchup, we have 2019 MVP Aidan Nagle (Woodstock) vs Strasburg’s Brandon Quaranta (2016-17).

  • Nagle defeated Thomas Smith (58.3-41.7%) and Jimmy Yezzo (56.5-43.5%) to get here. “Aidan Nagle came to Woodstock last summer from Cuesta College, on his way to his junior year at Lewis-Clark. His summer was dynamite; he hit .406/.492/.675 in 160 regular-season at-bats, with 47 runs scored, 10 doubles, 11 home runs, 33 RBIs, a 23/26 BB/K ratio, and nine stolen bases (without being caught). In five playoff games, Nagle scored nine more runs, and added five extra base hits, including three home runs. He finished first in the league in OPS, slugging percentage, total bases (with 108), home runs, hits, and runs. He finished third in batting average, on-base percentage, and RBIs. He was an All-Star, a Prospect Showcase participant, first team All-Valley in the outfield, and Perfect Game’s third best prospect. In his abbreviated junior season just this spring for Lewis-Clark, Nagle hit .253/.333/.342 in 79 at-bats with two home runs.”
  • Quaranta annihilated two players- Leo Rojas (77.2-12.8%) and Zach Sterry (88.7-11.3%). “Brandon Quaranta was a monster in Strasburg’s lineup… and on the hill. Let’s see: in 2016, he hit .375/.425/.713 in 80 at-bats, with seven doubles and six home runs. He went on to hit .448/.500/1.034 in the playoffs to help the Express to a title. On the mound, he didn’t allow an earned run in 7 1/3 regular season innings and four postseason innings. Then, 2017. In 151 regular season at-bats, he hit .331/.448/.623, with 11 doubles, 11 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a 25/32 BB/K ratio. He hit another home run and walked 11 times in nine playoff games, too. On the mound, he went 0-0, 1.58, with four saves in 11 1/3 regular season innings, and 1-2, 1.42 in 6 1/3 playoff innings. He was ATVL’s 2nd best hitter that year (behind only Michael Wielansky). He played all four years at Philadelphia U (changed to “Jefferson” in 2017, I believe), and hit .318/.449/.630 in 462 at-bats, with 24 doubles, 38 home runs, 123 RBIs, a 92/97 BB/K ratio, and 25 stolen bases in the four years. He was not drafted after his college eligibility ended.”

Vote by going to twitter.com/JohnATVL.

And by the way, if you want to read a ton about either the 2015 or 2019 VBL season, be sure to check out this post on the 2019 Valley League Annual.

Also, please check out and subscribe to the Valley Baseball League youtube channel– some awesome stuff is released almost every day!

Quaranta