Finally Friday… and our third matchup this week in the ridiculous “Best Valley League Reliever in the Last Ten Years” bracket.

  • Thomas Sutera beat up on Front Royal’s Josh Andrews last round, 79.3% to 20.7% (29 votes). His writeup: “Thomas Sutera, nicknamed “The Human Noodle” (he’s listed at 6-foot-5, 175 pounds), showed up in Purcellville after his pretty rough sophomore year at Siena in 2017. He was lights out for the Cannons, going 6-0, 1.57, with three saves, a 1.050 WHIP, 2.6 BB/9, and 10.2 K/9 in 15 games and 34 1/3 innings pitched. He was named the Valley League’s Pitcher of the Year, and ATVL’s top reliever. After his junior season in 2018, the Philadelphia Phillies signed him as an undrafted free agent and sent him to the Gulf Coast League, where he gave up one earned run and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings. He spent 2019 with Lakewood in the Low-A South Atlantic League, going 1-3, 4.26 in seven games and 25 1/3 innings. He’s still active.”
  • Christian Dearman wiped out Front Royal’s Jacob Ramos in the first round, 93.8% to 6.3% (16 votes). His writeup: “Christian Dearman pitched for Waynesboro in 2019, during the most recent Valley League season. The 6-foot-1 righthander from Florida International went 2-0, 0.45 in 10 games and 20 innings, with a 1.000 WHIP, 2.7 BB/9, and 7.2 K/9. He also pitched in a game in the playoffs, going 2 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run. He was ATVL’s third best reliever in the league. Dearman spent 2017 and 2018 at Tallahassee Community College, and 2019 and 2020 at Florida International. With his extra year of eligibility, he’s transferred to St. Thomas.” (And by the way, Dearman has struck out seven in his first four innings of work for St. Thomas this spring.)

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.

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  • Sutera
  • Courtesy of Michael Terndrup