Let’s start our abbreviated journey of a look at the top ten relief pitchers from the 2023 VBL season. As always, I don’t even look at wins, losses, or saves, but instead focus my rankings on ERA, WHIP, batting average against, BB/9, and K/9. Innings pitched, the category, is also important- every one of my top ten selections has at least 12 innings pitched.

We’ll begin the process by looking at a couple who just missed, one special consideration, and then the 7th through 10th best reliever (according to me, anyway).

Few Who Just Missed

  • Ryan DeSanto, Strasburg (St.Josephs): 0-1, 2.00, 2 saves, 1.222 WHIP, .229 BAA, 3.0 BB/9, and a ridiculous 20.0 K/9 in nine innings.
  • Daniel Diaz, Harrisonburg (South Alabama): 2-2, 1.97, 1.209 WHIP, .214 BAA, 3.6 BB/9, 9.6 K/9 in 27 1/3 innings. Diaz was named All-VBL Honorable Mention.
  • Chad Heiner, Harrisonburg (Marshall): 3-1, 3.11, 1 save, 1.269 WHIP, .185 BAA, 5.5 BB/9, 10.0 K/9 in 26 innings.

Special Consideration

Back in 1990 or thereabouts, I had the opportunity the play college baseball at Eastern Mennonite, and had one season pitching to Sam Petersheim, the best catcher I had ever played with. The transfer from Barry had a bazooka for an arm; in fact, he did not allow a single stolen base the entire season. He was so good at controlling the running game that I would literally not check on runners at first base when I went into the stretch; I wanted them to go. He was a leader, too; our mound visits often included tips on how I could sharpen up my breaking ball, or some other bit of advice. I have pretty good memories from that year, even though we didn’t win many games (that I can recall, anyway).

So imagine my surprise, 30+ years later, when New Market signed a young man from Division-II Colorado State by the name of Jacob Petersheim for the summer of 2023. Jacob, Sam’s youngest son, was returning to the mound after elbow surgery, and needed a place closer to home to get some experience over the summer months. Jacob threw a total of 14 1/3 innings over nine games for New Market, going 1-0, 3.14, with 3 saves, a 1.259 WHIP, .212 BAA, 4.4 BB/9, and 8.2 K/9. So while Jacob doesn’t appear on my list of top relievers, he had a fine summer that hopefully helped him both in his rehab and his preparation for his sophomore season in Pueblo. He deserves his own category in these write-ups!

Now on to the list:

#7-#10

#10: Jacob Heath, Covington (West Florida): 4-2, 2.52, 1 save, 1.064 WHIP, .223 BAA, 2.3 BB/9, 10.6 K/9 in 35 2/3 innings. He was named All-VBL Honorable Mention. Heath went 4-3, 4.73 in 32 innings as a sophomore for the Argonauts.

#9: Bere Bauers, Woodstock (Randolph Macon): 1-0, 2.79, 7 saves, 0.933 WHIP, .203 BAA, 1.4 BB/9, 13.5 K/9 in 19 1/3 innings. He was named All-VBL in the North Division. Bauers went 1-4, 4.79 in 35 2/3 innings for the Yellow Jackets in 2023.

#8: Garfield Johns, Harrisonburg (South Alabama): 2-0, 1.08, 6 saves, 0.958 WHIP, .172 BAA, 2.7 BB/9, 11.9 K/9 in 16 2/3 innings. He was named All-VBL in the South Division. Johns spent two years at Sante Fe Community College before transferring to South Alabama. In his junior season, he appeared in seven games and threw 17 innings.

#7: Evan McDade, Staunton (Fairmont State): 3-2, 2.60, 0.974 WHIP, .207 BAA, 1.9 BB/9, 9.5 K/9 in 38 innings. McDade, a current junior at Fairmont State, threw 13 1/3 innings in his sophomore season for the Falcons.