HOLLY SPRINGS – The Coastal Plain League (CPL) announced today several of its recent Players of the Week for the 2024 season. CPL Players of the Week are brought to you by Trackman Baseball, providing players and coaches next-generation analytical data all season long.

Most recently were the CPL Players of the Week for week eight (July 14-20) — Collin Hughes of the Tri-City Chili Peppers and Dalton Barham of the Peninsula Pilots. The sophomore catcher from Longwood batted .526 on the week, tied with the most hits in the league at 10. He connected on a league-best five doubles and added three home runs on his way to scoring six runs and driving home 10 RBIs. Hughes also drew three walks and was hit twice. His 1.250 slugging percentage and OPS of 1.900 led the league as well, while he sported a .650 on-base percentage to round things out.

On the bump, Barham finished the week with a perfect 0.00 ERA and was the beneficiary of a 2-0 record with one save. The senior lefty from Norfolk State made four appearances for the Pilots and only allowed two hits in 6 2/3 innings. He did give up two runs, but both were unearned, and he struck out eight. Barham held opposing batters to a lousy .111 average against him, while sporting a 0.43 WHIP and K/9 of 9.643.

In week seven, Forest City’s Charlie Jones (Georgia) and Macon’s Hunter Varnadoe (Georgia State) were recognized as hitter and pitcher respectively. Jones, who is transferring from Air Force, led the league with a .600 average to go with a 1.300 slugging, .692 on-base and 1.992 OPS. In all, he featured a double and two dingers, two walks, five runs and five RBIs. Varnadoe led the league with a complete game, 8-inning outing in which he gave up one run – unearned – on three hits, walked one and struck out a league-high 11. The 6-5, 215-pound right-hander earned the win, while also flexing with a 0.50 WHIP and 12.375 K/9.

Week six saw Asheboro’s Zach Evans and Lexington County’s Chance Fitzgerald honored. A senior infielder from Lenoir-Rhyne, Evans led the league in batting average (.750), hits (12), and on-base percentage (.778). He had four runs scored, three RBIs, a pair of doubles, walks and stolen bags, as well as a home run. He also sported a 1.063 slugging and OPS of 1.841. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald threw five innings of one-hit baseball, walked four and struck out five for the Blowfish to pick up the win. The 6-1, 210-pound freshman righty from Clemson also held opposing batters to a mere .063 average, while finishing with a 1.00 WHIP and K/9 of 9.000.

The honors for the week prior, week five, went to Wilson’s Jack Kail and Peninsula’s Sam Rochard. A middle infielder from Columbia, Kail led the league with 11 hits and three doubles. He slashed .524/.583/.810 with six runs scored, 10 RBIs, three walks and two stolen bags. He also had an OPS of 1.393. Rochard, a 6-1, 200-pound senior right-hander from Tennessee Wesleyan made two appearances for the Pilots, picking up a win and a save. In 6 2/3 innings, he surrendered just three hits while striking out a league-best nine. In addition to his 0.00 ERA, he featured a 0.45 WHIP, K/9 of 12.150 and held opposing batters to a .136 average against him.

Lastly, week four saw another Pilots player, Grayson Fitzwater (VMI) named Hitter of the Week, while Asheboro’s Noah Samol (Clemson) was named Pitcher of the Week. Fitzwater was key to Peninsula’s offense, racking up nine hits, including a double, to go with six runs and eight RBIs. He also reached base on six walks and two hit-by-pitches. In all, he batted .500 with an OPS of 1.186 on the week. A 6-8, 250-pound lefty, Samol struck out a league-best 12 batters on the week. He gave up just two hits in six innings, walked two and picked up a save to go with his 0.00 ERA. Batters swung just .100 against him, while he finished with a WHIP of 0.67 and K/9 of 18.000.

<strong>About Coastal Plain League:</strong>
The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. The CPL is currently comprised of 15 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,800 alumni drafted, and 193 alums make their Major League debut. Most notable alumni include Justin Verlander, Ryan Zimmerman, Mark Reynolds, Kevin Youkilis, Chris Taylor, Alec Bohm, Jake Cave, Chas McCormick and NFL Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok @CPLBaseball.

<strong>About Capitol Broadcasting Company:</strong>
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAZ-TV, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WNGT-CD, WCMC-FM, WCMC-HD1, WDNC-AM, WCMC-HD2, WCMC-HD3, WCLY-AM, WCMC-HD4, Microspace, WRAL Digital and Wolfpack Sports Properties (a joint venture with Learfield) in Raleigh, NC; WILM-TV, WILT-LD and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, NC; The Durham Bulls Baseball Club, Bull City Hospitality and Coastal Plain League in Durham, NC; The Holly Springs Salamanders in Holly Springs, NC; Greenville Yard Gnomes in Greenville, NC, the American Underground startup hub in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Historic District in Durham, NC, and Rocky Mount Mills in Rocky Mount, NC.