swing the bat,” but it’s too late, he the next two batters and the dugout “Dad,

d, this is awesome, can we

already ran off to chase the ball erupts, snapping you out of your come back again?”
along with 10 other young children. trancelike state.
It’s the end of the game, but the As you're walking off the ield, you
As you watch them ight over the start of a new generation of tradi hear a voice saying "we play again
ball, you remember doing the same tion for you and your son. You take tomorrow night at seven!" You and
thing your
as a
child ..more than baseball at its best... son
look
when back to
your grand him down to the see the Braves' irstbaseman wav
father ield, and two play ing; your son grins then looks at
brought ers from each team you before you turning to the
you to this sign his ball. You tell player to yell "We'll be here!"
very ield him to take good
for all of care of it; these guys For schedules, rosters, directions to the
the could be famous ields, or other information about Valley
some day. Your son League Baseball, please visit
Staunton
www.valleyleaguebaseball.com.
home looks at you with a
games. big smile and says,
Your son
comes run
ning back, Valley Leaguers in the MLB
gleaming;

The Appeal Play

he got the PLAYER VALLEY LEAGUE TEAM MLB TEAM
ball. He
stands next Adam Evere Winchester Minnesota Twins
to you and shows you the ball, you Aubrey Hu Staunton Balmore Orioles

Of The Season
tell him to hold on to it, because Brandon Inge Waynesboro Detroit Tigers
after the game you’ll take him down Bre Gardner New Market New York Yankees
to have the players sign it. Carlos Guevara Covington San Diego Padres
Chad Tracy Staunton Arizona Diamondbacks
As your son can’t stop smiling, nei Chris Ray New Market Balmore Orioles
HISTORY AND TRADITION MEET THE STARS OF ther can you; this isn't just baseball, Christopher Carter Waynesboro Boston Red Sox
it's Valley Baseball. You're watching Craig Tatum Covington Cincinna Reds
TOMORROW AT THE VALLEY BASEBALL LEAGUE the stars of tomorrow play for
nothing more than the love of the
David Eckstein
Emil Brown
Harrisonburg
Waynesboro
Toronto Blue Jays
Oakland Athlecs

T
he irst pitch whizzes by the Generals’ irst Braves’ reliever. He shakes off three signs before game. With smiles on their faces Jack Egbert Winchester Chicago White Sox
batter. He steps out of the batter’s box and he agrees to throw a fastball. As the ball leaves and wooden bats in their hands, Jared Burton New Market Cincinna Reds
wipes the sweat from his face; it’s a hot his hand, you see the batter’s eyes light up. With you remember that the players of Jason Michaels Staunton Pisburgh Pirates
summer night and the Waynesboro Generals are the crack of the bat, the ball goes foul. The the Valley League have been carry Javier Lopez New Market Boston Red Sox
facing the Staunton Braves in a Valley Baseball catcher calls a time out, and from the stands, ing on the tradition and simplicity Jon Rauch Harrisonburg Washington Naonals
League game. The players are here, in Vir you can hear the chatter in the dugout; of America's pastime since 1932. Juan Pierre Harrisonburg Los Angeles Dodgers
ginia for the summer in hopes of making they‘re going to pitch him low and inside. Jusn Miller Luray Florida Marlins
a statement to the big leagues, so the To you, tonight is more than base Kevin Kouzmano Winchester San Diego Padres
stakes are high and both teams have The catcher hustles back, the pitcher ball at its best; it's a fatherson mo Kyle Snyder Winchester Boston Red Sox
their eyes on the League Cup. quickly gets into his windup and delivers; the ment to last a lifetime and the Luke Sco Staunton Balmore Orioles
batter sees the ball coming, and soon enough, perfect way to spend a warm, sum Mike Lowell Waynesboro Boston Red Sox
From the stands of Moxie Field, you and 100 you see the ball going over the fence. You look mer night. Saul Rivera New Market Washington Naonals
other fans see the look of determination on the over to your son and say, “now, that’s how you The Waynesboro pitcher strikes out

You want the world
to study subjects that he is interested in. He wants to play lots of
sports and join lots of clubs. He wants friends. He wants to go to
exciting places. He wants to fit in.
The central Shenandoah Valley can give him what
you both want.
The fully accredited Public Schools in mid-Shenandoah
Valley (Augusta County, Harrisonburg, Staunton, and
Waynesboro) have a student-centered philosophy. They
are committed to providing not only a high-quality educa-
tion for your child.
The schools in the central Shenandoah Valley work to
give him a high-quality experience that will prepare him
for the real world. No wonder Augusta County’s Buffalo
Gap High School was awarded a Bronze medal by U.S.
News & World Report in their rankings of the Best High
Schools in America.
The academic programs are tailored to your childs
needs (and your neighbors needs, too).
From K-12, the region’s scholastic programs are individu-
alized to meet each student’s specific needs. Staunton
City Schools even has a gifted and talented school for
students in 11th and 12th grades in their district.
With great teachers, safe, nurturing learning environ-
ments, and graduation rates up to 8 points higher than
the Virginia state average, the region’s schools prepare
If youre looking for something different, the Valley has that, too.
If you want to choose the school where the school’s approach and phi-
losophy best match your child, then you can choose from the five pri-
vate schools located in the central Shenandoah Valley region. From
Faith-based education styles to a military school experience, there’s a
for your school to meet your wants and needs right in the middle of the beautiful
Shenandoah Valley.
seven year old Stuart Hall School-
Girls' boarding school for students in grades 8-12.
http://www.stuart-hall.org/
(or ten or Hunter McGuire School-
Coed day school (lower school of Stuart Hall), for stu-
Faith Primary School-
Faith-centered education for children in grades K-5.
fifteen year dents in grades Pre-K-7.
http://www.huntermcguire.org/
http://www.faithprimaryschool.com/
Fishburne Military Academy-
old). Ridgeview Christian School-
Christian-based education for children ingrades K-12.
http://ridgeviewchristian.com/
College preparatory education for young men in
grades 7-12.
http://www.fishburne.org/
He wants a life. He wants
and encourage students to be productive and dedicated
citizens.
Learning should be fun.
Your child is only going to learn so much in the class- COLLEGE RANKINGS
room. That’s why the region’s schools believe that engag-
ing him outside of the classroom is just as important. With In a U.S. News & World Report ranking of colleges and universities around the nation, check out Virginia’s schools placed:
clubs for children in K-12 athletics for students in grades
7-12, there is something for everyone. TOP 50 PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES BEST NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES (private and public)
• University of Virginia: 2 • Univ. of Virginia: tied for 23
Education for life.
• College of William and Mary: 6 • College of William and Mary: 32
From Art Guild to Jazz Band, Football to Cheerleading,
• Virginia Tech: tied for 30 • Virginia Tech: tied for 71
Student Council Association to Gaming Club (and every-
thing in between), your child’s education will be enriched
by his participation in the many extracurricular activities TOP UNIVERSITIES – MASTER’S BEST LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES
WPS has to offer. He will interact with others, become a
• James Madison University: 4 • Washington and Lee: 17
leader, experience life lessons, and make friends that will
• Univ. of Mary Washington: 7 • Univ. of Richmond: tied for 33
last a lifetime.
• Virginia Military Institute: tied for 71 (and No. 3
Check them out! SCHOOLS TO WATCH in Top 5 Public Liberal Arts Colleges)
http://www.waynesboro.k12.va.us/ • Sweet Briar: tied for 84
• George Mason University: 1, National Univer- • Hampden-Sydney: tied for 98
http://www.harrisonburg.k12.va.us/
sities • Hollins Univ.: tied for 98
http://www.augusta.k12.va.us/
http://staunton.k12.va.us • Christopher Newport University: 7, Liberal
http://www.svgs.k12.va.us/ Arts Colleges SOURCE: U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT, 2008