BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Accolades continued to roll in for Samford's Austin Edens this summer as the Bulldogs' impressive sophomore-to-be earned First-Team All-Valley Baseball League honors, it was officially announced by the VBL office Thursday.
 
Edens, who starred for the Staunton Braves this season, proved to be one of 16 players to earn First-Team All-VBL honors. Listed as the top first-baseman in the talent-laden summer league, Edens registered a .352 batting average, 27 runs batted in and powered three home runs. His batting average proved to be the fourth best in the league.
 
Thursday's honor was added to a growing list of accolades received by Edens following the completion of his record-setting freshman campaign.
 
In June, Edens was named First-Team Freshman All-America by Baseball America. It marked the third Freshman All-America team that Edens was named to since the conclusion of the 2015 season. He was also named Freshman All-America by both Collegiate Baseball and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
 
In addition to the Freshman All-America honors, Edens was named the Southern Conference's Freshman of the Year, and he was named to the league's All-SoCon team. Additionally, Edens was named to the ABCA/Rawlings All-Region team earlier in June.
 
Edens led Samford and finished the season ranked third in the SoCon with a .357 batting average and he led the squad and ranked second in the league in slugging percentage at .662. He was also the team leader and ranked fourth in the league in on-base percentage at .442.
 
Edens also ranked in the top 10 in the SoCon in home runs (T-2nd, 16), total bases (3rd, 141), doubles (T-6th, 17), walks (T-7th, 30) and runs batted in (9th, 54). Throughout the season, Edens produced 22 multi-hit games and 15 multi-RBI games.
 
During his freshman season, Edens helped lead Samford to a second-place finish in the SoCon standings with a 14-10 league mark. The team posted an overall record of 32-26 and reached the finals of the SoCon Tournament for the fourth time in the last five years.
 
2015 Valley League Most Valuable Player
Shane Billings, Harrisonburg (Wingate University)
 
2015 Valley League Pitcher of the Year
Hayden McCutcheon, Charlottesville (College of Charleston)

2015 All-Valley League First Team
C – Jonathan Corbitt, Covington (Lynn University)
1B – Austin Edens, Staunton (Samford University)
2B – Josè Carrera, Covington (Manhattan College)
3B – Drew Johnson, Strasburg (Cedarville University)
SS – Bradley Jones, Charles Town (College of Charleston)
OF – Shane Billings, Harrisonburg (Wingate University)
OF – Zac Carter, Winchester (Freed Hardeman University)
OF – Andrew Seigel, Aldie (Concord University)
DH – Nathaniel Maggio, Winchester (University of Tennessee)
UT – Weber Pike, Aldie (University of South Carolina, Columbia)
SP – Corey Sessions, Front Royal (Davenport University)
SP – Hayden McCutcheon, Charlottesville (College of Charleston)
SP – Steven Ridings, Charles Town (Messiah College)
SP – Jake Perkins, Staunton (Ferrum College)
RP – Daniel Johnson, Charlottesville (Charleston Southern University)
RP – Cody Strayer, Covington (Shawnee State University)
 
2015 All-Valley League Second Team
C – Spencer Levine, Winchester (Florida International University)
1B – Esteban Puerta, Woodstock (Florida Atlantic University)
2B – Steven McLean, Harrisonburg (Baylor University)
3B – Tyler Straub, Harrisonburg (University of Texas, San Antonio)
SS – Sean Visconti, Winchester (Palm Beach Atlantic College)
Utility – Greg Lambert, Front Royal (Southern Illinois University-Carbondale)
DH – P.J. Harris, Charles Town (Alabama State University)
OF – Storm Edwards, New Market (North Carolina State University)
OF – Jared Baker, Harrisonburg (Oklahoma City University)
OF – Drew Small, Front Royal (Butler University)
SP – Reid Van Woert, Aldie (St. Bonaventure University)
SP – James Ziemba, Harrisonburg (Duke University)
SP – Matt Hartman, Harrisonburg (University of Arizona)
SP – Brock Hunter, Strasburg (Coastal Carolina University)
RP – Devin Gould, Staunton (Longwood University)
RP – Frankie Romano, Waynesboro (Stetson University)