Beverly native Jack Leathersich is enjoying a lights-out summer in the Valley Baseball League in Virginia playing for the Haymarket Senators. The talented lefty, who just completed his freshman season at UMass-Lowell, was named to the Valley All-Star team earlier this week-10.

"It means a lot, not only to me, but to my team and the school to show that I'm working hard down here and hard work pays off," Leathersich said in a UML news release. "The competition down here is really good; every player is Division 1. You can't make as many mistakes as you can in other leagues."

Working out of the bullpen, Leathersich has earned two saves and has a 2.40 earned run average. He also had 29 strikeouts in only 15 innings pitched — an eye-popping and Valley League best average of 17.40 per nine innings.

"He's been one of the top relievers in this league. He comes in and lets it all out for a few innings. He comes right at hitters and has a presence on the mound," said Haymarket coach Ryan Fecteau.

A former Northeastern Conference all-star at Beverly High, Leathersich was named Northeast-10 Freshman Pitcher of the Year last spring and earned a spot on the league's All-Conference first team. Like many top college baseball players, he's spending his summer honing his skills in a prestigious setting.

The Valley League is one of only eight summer baseball leagues sanctioned by the NCAA and has talent such as the L.A. Dodgers' Juan Pierre, the Detroit Tigers' Brandon Inge and 2007 Red Sox World Series MVP Mike Lowell among its alums.

"This will give Jack tremendous exposure to professional scouts," said UMass-Lowell coach Ken Harring.