Aldie (July 9, 2013) – Freedom High School Class of 2012 graduate, and current Aldie Senator, Matt Malacane was named MVP of the North squad following the Valley Baseball League All-Star game on July 7 in Harrisonburg, VA.
“Overall the All-Star game and festivities were a great experience and I could not be more happy about the results,” Malacane said.
The results, however, did not favor the North team as they lost to the South 5-1, but Malacane’s 2-for-2 performance only grew more impressive with his outfield assist.
“It is a great privilege to be selected as an All-Star for the Valley League because this is a very competitive league,” Malacane said. “It is also great because it brings attention to Loudoun and Northern Virginia.”
Fellow Aldie Senator and Woodgrove High School Class of 2012 graduate Jonathan “JJ” Sarty also took part in the night cap at Veterans Memorial Park, going 2-for-2.
“It’s pretty cool playing back home and being able to get back into the same routine I was in during high school,” Sarty said of playing his summer ball in Loudoun.
In their final matchup before the All-Star break and riding a three game losing streak – a streak that held Aldie scoreless for 30 consecutive innings including four innings in Saturday night’s game – the Senators took on the Staunton Braves in Aldie on July 6.
Aldie proved victorious defeating the Braves 2-0, using a seven inning, seven strikeout performance from Junior Delatorre to shutout Staunton.
“Playing with the Senators is great because it is helping me get back into top baseball shape,” said Malacane who went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base. “Having games every day is also beneficial because if you have a bad game one night, it doesn’t matter because you get to go back at it again the next night.”
Sarty who added a walk and stolen base while serving as the DH echoed Malacane reinforcing that while “playing summer ball you get to work on certain things that can help make you a better baseball player for next year.”
On July 8, Aldie took on the North’s No. 1 seeded Woodstock River Bandits defeating them 10-5 backed by a Malacane 2-for-4 performance. JT Castner picked up the win for the Senators after going five innings as the Senators finished the game by committee.
Sarty left the game in the fourth after being hit by pitch in his hand during his second plate appearance.
“It is great to be back home for the summer and play in front of a lot of people that I know,” Malacane said. “Being a local guy helps draw in some extra fans just because people in this area know me from high school. I am loving it.”
