Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina sophomore right-handed pitcher
Davis Budd has been selected to represent the North Division in the 2025 Valley Baseball League All-Star Game, to be held on Sunday, July 13, at Veterans Memorial Park at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.
Budd is among four Southern Conference players represented in the North Division vs. South Division All-Star classic this weekend, with three on the South roster. Budd is joined by UNCG infielder Parker Wight and pitcher Riley Cruce from Wofford. Wofford outfielder Andrew Mannelly was selected for the South roster, but will not play on Sunday.
Pitching for Strasburg (Va.) Express, Budd has appeared in eight games this summer with one start and seven in relief. Over 15.0 innings of work, he has an ERA of 1.80 with just six runs allowed, three of which were earned. The Acworth, Ga., product has recorded 19 strikeouts against just six walks in his time in northern Virginia.
Heading into the All-Star weekend, Budd's best appearance was a summer-long 4.1 relief effort against the Charlottesville Tom Sox. He struck out seven in the scoreless appearance, only surrendering a pair of base hits. All told, Strasburg has won seven of the eight games that Budd has pitched in this summer.
Gates at the Veterans Memorial Park (395 South High Street) in Harrisonburg, Va., open at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, with batting practice scheduled for 3:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m., with team autograph sessions alternating during that hour. The VBL Home Run Derby is slated for just after the conclusion of BP. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
For ticket information, contact the Harrisonburg Turks front office at (540) 290-2929 or by email at
info@harrisonburgturks.com.
Elsewhere, in Monday's Coastal Plain League All-Star game in Macon, Ga., WCU's two participants –
Hayden Friese with the West All-Stars and
Wyatt Stanley for the East squad – both reached base on freebies. Friese drew a walk while a pitch hit Stanley as both found their way aboard in one of their two at-bats apiece. Former Catamount
Yates Sikes, who has entered the transfer portal and will not return to WCU in the fall, was additionally selected to play in the game.
The East All-Stars scored a 6-0 victory over the West team.
About the Valley Baseball League:
The Valley Baseball League is an NCAA and MLB-sanctioned collegiate summer baseball league in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. The current 12-team league was started in 1923 and sanctioned by the NCAA in 1961. It has been a wooden bat league since 1993.
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