WINCHESTER, Va. - Middle Tennessee first baseman/outfielder Blake McDade was named the Valley Baseball League South Division Player of the Week, by the league officials, Monday.
McDade currently holds a .454 batting average with 10 hits on 22 plate appearances through the opening six games of the season. He has a league-best 13 runs batted in as well as two doubles and one home run after the first week of play.
"I've been seeing the ball well and everything is really coming together for me. I got some good pitches to hit this spring which helped a lot," McDade said.
The Ooltewah, Tenn., native is playing in his second summer league season with the Staunton Braves of the 12-team Valley Baseball League in central Virginia.
"This season I have more experience hitting with a wooden bat which has greatly improved my performance at the plate. I am swinging more confidently this year," McDade said.
McDade played an integral part the Blue Raiders' historic 2009 campaign driving in 51 runs, hitting 19 doubles, with a .340 batting average. The 2009 team won a school record 44 games, captured the Sun Belt Conference Tournament crown, and received an NCAA Tournament bid.
"We ended the season with a lot of confidence. Although I am a part of a completely different team, I'm used to winning and I want to keep winning wherever I play," McDade said.
McDade will rejoin the Blue Raiders upon the conclusion of the Valley Baseball League season. Stay tuned to goblueraiders.com for more updates.
Print this article
