Hafer Victorious in Valley

STRASBURG, VIRGINIA-Rider University's David Hafer was named the Valley League Player of the Week.

Hafer (Pine Grove, PA) plays for the Strasburg Express and threw a complete game one-hitter in a 9-1 Express victory over Woodstock Sunday evening.

Hafer struck out nine, walked just one and allowed just a fourth-inning double in earning his first victory of the summer.

"Their GM tells me he's pitched very well, lights out his last four or five appearances," said Rider head coach Barry Davis, "and that he's very popular with his teammates. That's good to hear."

The Valley Baseball League is in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley.

"I feel the Valley League gives our players a great opportunity to grow and develop," said Davis, who led Rider to its fifth straight MAAC Championship Tournament appearance in 2012.

The Valley is nestled between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west.

"I coached in the Valley League in the late 1980s, with New Market," Davis said.  "Its a solid league with good competition.   We always look to send our guys there first."

Hafer has appeared in 10 games this summer for the Express, starting three, and has a 1-1 record. He has pitched 27 innings and has 26 strike outs.

As a freshman on the 2012 Rider team Hafer pitched in 11 games, six as a starter, and owned a 1-2 record. In 43 and two-thirds innings Hafner struck out 39.  Hafner emerged as Rider's fourth starter by the end of the season, The highlights of his rookie season include six strike outs in eight scoreless innings against Monmouth, eight Ks in six innings against NJIT and a victory over Saint Joseph's.

-ru-