 |  |
December 9, 2011
VBL Elects New Officers
HARRISONBURG,
Va. - The Valley Baseball League will be under new leadership
for the 2012 season following elections conducted recently at its
regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
The 12-team
summer baseball league runs under the direction of a Board of
Directors that are led by a four-person officers
group.
Two of these
officers, Treasurer Jim Phillips and Secretary Ken Newman, opted
not to seek re-election this fall.
Additionally,
President Dave Biery, who has run the league since 1985, announced
that he will step down following the 2012 season.
Biery will be
replaced by Don Lemish, who is currently the commissioner of
the Rockingham County Baseball League (RCBL) and is the
former James Madison University Director of Intercollegiate
Athletics.
This year,
Lemish will serve as Biery's assistant to prepare for the
transition.
"It's been a
great adventure," says Biery of his time with the VBL.
During his
tenure, Biery directed league expansion from six teams to 12, which
doubled the opportunity for college players, and also oversaw the
transition of the league to non-profit status.
Lemish, who also
served as Longwood AD after departing JMU, was a collegiate
baseball umpire for 16 years and coached with Clover Hill of the
RCBL.
"I have the
utmost respect for the Valley League and regard it as an honor to
even be considered for the position of President," Lemish
said.
Phillips departs
his VBL position after serving as league treasurer since 1996. He
will remain as VP of the Winchester Royals, a team he has been
associated since their founding over 30 years ago.
Gene Davis, a
certified public accountant and partner in the firm of Swisher and
Davis in Lexington, is set to take over for Phillips. Davis has
served as the public address announcer and as a host parent for the
Staunton Braves, and his interest in the Valley League is
longstanding.
Megan Smith, a
teacher in Rockingham County, is the new secretary in place of
Newman. Smith has worked with the Harrisonburg Turks in the past
and now takes on an increased role with the VBL.
Newman will
continue in his previous role of Rockbridge Rapids GM.
The final
officer position, Executive Vice President, remains unchanged.
Bruce Alger, the New Market GM, remains in this role.
---Information from Austin
Gisriel'srelease was used in this
story---
