On Sunday July 30th 2017 the Shenandoah Indians traveled to Warrenton to play the Rappahannock Monarchs in the Apple Valley Baseball League Championship game. Not only did Shenandoah lose this game, they also lost one of their best players since playing in the Apple Valley League. Shenandoah's David Comer announced that he was hanging up his cleats and retiring from baseball. We know one thing, if the Apple Valley League had a Hall of Fame, David would surely be in it! Shenandoah has been playing in the Apple Valley League since 2000 and David has been playing with the Indians 15 of the last 17 years. For five years, David doubled up and was playing both Apply Valley & Rockingham County Baseball League (RCBL) at the same time.
In RCBL he played one season for Montezuma Braves and Luray Cavemen. While playing with the Indians during the 2008 RCBL season, David made an all-star appearance and won the homerun derby.
David also played 3 years in New River Community College.
For the past five years David teamed up with his brother Tim and was performing duties as both player and coach with the Indians Baseball Organization.
His brother and Indiana’s coach Tim Hall said, he is the definition of a utility player, you can stick him anywhere on the field and I have. He played every position on that field for us this year.
David finished this season batting an even .500 with 3 homeruns and off the mound he had 2 saves this year. In the championship game alone he went 4 for 5.
Tim went on to say On the base paths he has nerves of steel. He will steal home and not even give the hitter any hint. Baseball situations are easy as breathing to this kid. I haven’t met anyone with as much situational baseball knowledge as this kid. It's all passion with him on the field. As a player and a coach and just someone to have around, he will be truly missed in that dugout.
We asked David how he felt about retiring from baseball, and where is what he had to say.
It's been a great run. I have had so much fun over the years. I met so many people, good and bad. I got to play ball with my brother and my cousin, and my son got to watch me play. I couldn’t really ask for a better group of guys to play ball with. I'm gonna miss it. My whole life, baseball has been my passion. Like others, I have been playing from the time I could throw a ball. My mom was my first coach and my dad was also one of my coaches growing up and big part of my ball career!
It's so much to say about everything about my career in baseball, but I can't really find all the words to say. I just know I'm gonna miss it. I'm gonna miss the dirt flying up in my face when I slide headfirst into a base. I'm gonna miss the way the ball feels coming off the bat when you hit a laser to the outfield. The sound of the ball popping the mit when I was catching. Hell I'm even gonna miss the soreness and aches and pains the day after a ball game. I didn't mind them pains. I earned those aches and pains. When I played, I was all out, all the time and those pains reminded me, that I did give my all. As I walk away from it this year, I still carry some of the pains and memories with me.
David and his son Trevor and his wife Tiffany live in Front Royal. David works for Packaging Corporation of America.
Attached photographs:
(1) Apple Valley League Commissioner Craig Orndorff presenting David Comer with the MVP plaque for Shenandoah after Shenandoah's loss to Rappahannock Monarchs at Highland School in Warrenton Va on July 30, 2017.
(2) Team congratulating David on his final game in Warrenton on July 30, 2017.
(3) David and his brother Tim on July 30, 2017.
(4) David safely sliding head first into home during the 2017 Championship game in Warrenton on July 30, 2017.
(5) David accepting the 2015 Championship Trophy from Apple Valley League Commissioner Craig Orndorff after Shenandoah Indians victory over the Culpeper Cardinals on August 16, 2015.
Article and Photographs by Amos Thomas.
