In our very first matchup in the “2010-2019 Best Starters Bracket,” we have former New Market lefty Blaine Sims (2010) vs Front Royal righty Corey Sessions (2015).

  • Blaine Sims came to New Market from Arkansas Tech ten years ago. After going 6-4, 5.31 as a junior that spring, he was very good for New Market, going 3-3, 2.95, with a 1.156 WHIP, 2.8 BB/9, and 7.0 K/9 in 64 innings pitched. ATVL named him the 13th best starter based on those stats. He was undrafted up to that point, but Atlanta signed him- that summer! So he reported to the Danville Braves in the Appalachian League to begin his pro career. Sims went on to play in the minors for six seasons- four with Atlanta, and two with the Houston Astros. In 329 2/3 career pro innings, Sims went 10-31, 5.09, with a 1.68 WHIP, 4.7 BB/9, and 6.7 K/9. He did not advance past high A ball, and was released in 2015.
  • Corey Sessions showed up in Front Royal from Davenport in 2015. For the Cards that summer, Sessions went 5-2, 2.01, with a 0.868 WHIP, 1.3 BB/9, and 4.5 K/9 in 40 2/3 innings pitched. (He walked only six batters all summer.) ATVL named him the league’s 4th best starter. Undrafted after his college career, Sessions played for two seasons with the Southern Illinois Miners in the Independent Frontier League. Overall, he went 3-9, 4.72, with a 1.47 WHIP, 3.3 BB/9, and 4.6 K/9 in 120 2/3 total innings.

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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.

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