Valley Dominates Aaa Legion All-Stars

Valley baseball players dominated 1997 all-league selections in AAA American Legion baseball.

Sixteen of 29 players on two teams come from local high schools.

Included were first-team outfielders Bill Tincup and Chris Hilsabeck and pitcher Brian Chance from the Cannons, shortstop Aaron Fryer, pitchers Chris McMurtrey and Sean Ruscio, catcher Brett Haiar, outfielder Ken Beeler and designated hitter Josh Sheffield from the Bandits.

On second team were second baseman Ben Miller, shortstop Jeremy Isherwood, outfielder Raif Jochim, catcher Justin Folkins and pitcher Jason Phillipe from the Cannons, third baseman Andy Dunham from the Bandits and outfielder Sean Thacker from the Royals.

McMurtrey and Ruscio finished with eight wins apiece and respective 2.17 and 2.27 earned run averages.

Tincup beat out Sheffield for the batting title, .515 to .480. Sheffield led the league with five triples, was second with eight home runs and third with 46 runs scored.

Fryer was fourth in league with a .430 average. Isherwood and Tincup were second in league with 16 doubles each and Isherwood was third with 40 RBIs.

Hilsabeck led the league with 30 stolen bases and 50 runs scored.

, DataTimes