Murray, Smith win weekly honors

Brandon Murray is the Waynesboro Generals Player of the Week, and Devin Smith is the Waynesboro Generals Pitcher of the Week.

Murray was a clear choice among a crowded field of offensive performers for Waynesboro, which leads the Valley League in team batting average and runs. The 5’11”, 205-pound junior from the College of Charleston hit five home runs and had 10 RBIs on the week, including a bombastic three-homer, six-RBI night in a 14-1 win over Winchester on Wednesday.

Murray also hit a homer the next night in a 13-9 win over Woodstock, and went deep again in a 9-8 loss at home to Luray on Saturday night.

Murray raised his average from .138 to .255 with his 9-for-28 week and now leads the Valley League with six homers in 2012

Murray beat out shortstop Caleb Palensky, last week’s Player of the Week, who continued a hot streak of late, going 12-for-22 at the plate with three RBI, center fielder Julian Ridings, who was 10-for-19 this week with two home runs and six RBI, and catcher Ryan Breen, who was 9-for-20 with two home runs and five RBI and had a game-winning walkoff homer in the 6-5 win over Harrisonburg on Sunday, for the weekly honors.

Smith, a 5’10, 190-pound junior from Concord, improved to 3-0 on the season with his performance in Monday’s 3-1 win at Rockbridge, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and no walks in the victory.

For the season, Smith has a 2.70 ERA and an impressive 21 strikeouts and just one walk in 20 innings pitched.