We begin our second round matchups with these two righthanders!

  • Reece Karalus defeated Harrisonburg’s Chris Pike in the first round, 53.8% to 46.2% (13 votes). His writeup: “Reece Karalus came a long way to join the Aldie Senators in 2014- he was attending Santa Clara- but he made the time worthwhile, as he was ATVL’s top reliever in the league that summer. Check it out- in 12 games and 15 2/3 innings, Karalus went 2-0, 0.57, with four saves, a 0.510 WHIP, 0.6 BB/9, and 14.9 K/9 (one walk vs 26 K’s). He led all relievers in WHIP, BB/9, and K/9. After his junior year at Santa Clara, Karalus was drafted in the 8th round of the June draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. He spent four seasons in the Rays’ minor league system, reaching Double-A in 2018. In 93 minor league games, Karalus went a combined 12-8, 3.71, with eight saves, a 1.30 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9, and 8.2 K/9 in 189 2/3 pro innings. After his release in 2018, he pitched for one season for the New Jersey Jackals in the Independent CanAm League. He has signed back with New Jersey for 2021.”
  • Matthew Smallwood defeated another Turk, Alex Hoppe, in the first round, 66.7% to 33.3% (6 votes). His writeup: “Matthew Smallwood, ATVL’s 2nd best reliever in 2015, came to Winchester after a redshirt season at New Mexico. All he did for the Royals is go 4-1, 3.27, with a save, 0.955 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9, and 13.9 K/9 in 22 innings pitched. He finished his summer pitching in the Cape Cod League. You might wonder if Smallwood is now pitching professionally somewhere, but he chose a different path altogether. After returning to New Mexico the next year, Smallwood left baseball altogether to focus on a medical career.”

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. (Whatever, man, I’m still glad I wrote them.)

Also, please check out and subscribe to the Valley Baseball League youtube channel!

  • Karalus
  • Smallwood