When there are no regular season games scheduled seems like the perfect time to try out ranking the VBL teams again. When I put the teams in order, I look at record, run differential, batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage, team ERA, and I added in offensive walks against strikeouts.

Oh, and this doesn’t mean anything. It’s not playoff seeding, or future prospects, or even a statement on how teams are put together. If your team is lower than you would like, maybe they’ll play better and move up!

For each team I will list the crucial stats, and then mention a player who is leading the offensive attack.

Tier 1: The Top of the Foul Pole (Does this metaphor work?)

  1. Charlottesville: 15-4, .789; 161 runs scored- 82 runs allowed; .275/.426/.421; 138/165 BB/K; 3.27 ERA; Robbie Lavey (George Washington) is hitting .356/.453/.689 in 45 at-bats, with 12 runs, 14 RBIs, three doubles, four home runs, and an 8/9 BB/K ratio. He’s tied for second in the league in home runs.
  2. Strasburg: 14-5, .737; 161-105; .289/.407/.438; 100/163 BB/K; 5.00 ERA; Diego Villescas (New Orleans) is leading the league in hitting at .386/.518/.545 in 44 at-bats, with 11 runs, five doubles, one triple, 11 RBIs, 9/7 BB/K, and seven stolen bases.

These two teams are very clearly the cream of the crop. It’s shocking how close the teams are in record, runs scored, and those hitting rates. The obvious difference is the pitching staffs.

Tier 2: The Outfield Wall (I’m just having fun with this now)

3. Purcellville: 11-8, .579; 116-90; .258/.386/.361; 112/177 BB/K; 4.28 ERA; Shintaro Inoue (Kansas State) has a whopping 24 RBIs in 19 games. He’s hitting .277/.427/.508 in 65 at-bats, with 12 runs scored, six doubles, three home runs, 16/14 BB/K ratio, and four stolen bases.

4. Harrisonburg: 10-8, .556; 129-113; .271/.383/.367; 105/128 BB/K; 4.50 ERA; Chris Katz (Wake Forest) has ripped line drives every time I’ve seen him play- he’s hitting .338/.425/.423 in 71 at-bats, with 16 runs, four doubles, one triple, 20 RBIs, and 13/8 BB/K ratio.

5. Staunton: 10-10, .500; 119-116; .228/.363/.323; 111/182 BB/K; 3.82 ERA; A.J. Wenrich (Georgia Southern) is hitting .259/.328/.534 in 58 at-bats, with 14 runs, two doubles, a triple, four home runs, 12 RBIs, and 5/18 BB/K ratio.

6. New Market: 9-10, .474; 120-111; .238/.360/.338; 107/182 BB/K; 5.00 ERA; Gaetan Grandelli (West Chester) is hitting .341/.426/.537 in 41 at-bats, with eight runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, 12 RBIs, 5/2 BB/K, and five stolen bases.

7. Waynesboro: 9-11, .450; 141-166; .278/.386/.370; 94/132 BB/K; 7.68 ERA; Bentley Yeatts (Longwood) is hitting .358/.444/.491 in 53 at-bats, with 13 runs, three doubles, two triples, 14 RBIs, 5/10 BB/K, and four stolen bases for the high-performing General offense.

8. Woodstock: 10-11, .476; 115-137; .245/.381/.334; 108/175 BB/K; 6.06 ERA; Chaz Salter (Middle Georgia) is hitting .339/.443/.390 in 59 at-bats, with nine runs, a double, triple, 13 RBIs, and 8/8 BB/K.

9. Front Royal: 9-11, .450; 108-151; .238/.363/.331; 99/167 BB/K; 6.18 ERA; Returner Broedy Poppell (Florida A&M) is hitting .362/.446/.435 in 69 at-bats, with 11 runs, two doubles, a home run, 13 RBIs, 12/10 BB/K, and 15 stolen bases.

Tier 3: An Infield Pop-Up

10. Winchester: 6-14, .300; 117-143; .265/.386/.365; 107/151 BB/K; 5.80 ERA; Austin Lafferty (Akron) is hitting .341/.492/.477 in 44 at-bats, with nine runs, four doubles, a triple, 11 RBIs, and 12/8 BB/K.

11. Covington: 7-12, .368; 106-148; .250/.362/.343; 98/163 BB/K; 6.54 ERA; Would have focused on Brennon Wright here, but…. Jackson Toberman (St. Johns River State) is hitting .321/.381/.554 in 56 at-bats, with 10 runs, four doubles, three home runs, 17 RBIs, and 4/15 BB/K.

12. Culpeper: 6-12, .333; 111-142; .243/.340/.363; 69/157 BB/K; 6.38 ERA; Jon Howard (Mt. Olive) leads the league in home runs with five, along with slashing .345/.429/.655 in 58 at-bats, with 16 runs, three doubles, 13 RBIs, and 10/18 B/K. Along with a pretty sweet mustache.

If there’s a next time, I’ll focus on a pitcher of note for each team… and we’ll see how teams rearrange themselves!