2004 Diamond CPL Defensive Player of the Year:
Jeff DeMara (VMI) Peninsula Pilots
DeMara made 22 appearances on the mound for the Pilots, including an effort in the 2004 CPL Petitt Cup Tournament on August 6th. He pitched 26.1 innings, grabbing a 2-0 record with 11 saves and a very impressive 0.35 ERA overall. Also in that time, DeMara surrendered 14 hits, but allowed just two runs, only one of which was earned. The 5-9 right-hander walked nine batters, while striking out 39.
Furthermore, for his efforts during week five of the regular season, DeMara took home the Diamond Defensive Player of the Week honors at the end of the week. During that week, he made four appearances, pitching five innings. In that time, he sported a perfect 0.00 ERA and although he had no decisions, he did grab three saves. He gave up two hits, walked two, and struck out nine batters.
The 2004 season marked DeMara’s second season in the Coastal Plain League, having played as a member of the Petersburg Generals in 2003. While with the Generals, he recorded 12 saves, giving him a total of 23 saves for his CPL career. That number fell just one shy of the league record for most saves in a career, 24, held by Jason Walker, who pitched for Asheboro in 2000 and 2001.
2004 Diamond Pitchers of the Week
Pitcher of the Week (Week 9):
Heath Rollins (South Carolina) Florence (Week 9)
Pitcher of the Week (Week 8):
Jason Cline (Belmont Abbey) Gastonia (Week 8)
Co-Pitchers of the Week (Week 7):
David A. Williams (UNC-Asheville) Asheboro (Week 7)
Cory Koliscak (Radford) Asheboro (Week 7)
Co-Pitchers of the Week (Week 6):
Allen Flood (UNC-Wilmington) Florence (Week 6)
Joe Brown (Trinity) Outer Banks (Week 6)
Co-Pitchers of the Week (Week 5):
Josh Sutton (UNC-Wilmington) Florence (Week 5)
Jeff DeMara (VMI) Peninsula (Week 5)
Pitcher of the Week (Week 4):
Jeff Moore (UNC-Wilmington) Wilmington (Week 4)
Co-Pitchers of the Week (Week 3):
Josh Wilkie (George Washington) Outer Banks (Week 3)
Darek Stanfield (Akron) Wilmington (Week 3)
Pitcher of the Week (Week 2):
Daniel Gemma (San Jose State) Edenton (Week 2)
Co-Pitchers of the Week (Week 1):
Andrew Carter (Davidson) Wilson (Week 1)
Josh Ellis (Wake Forest) Edenton (Week 1)
2004 SW Bat Co. CPL Offensive Player of the Year:
Tommy Lentz (Winthrop University) Spartanburg Stingers
Lentz started 44 games at centerfield for the Stingers and finished the season with a .335 average (53-of-158), totaling a league-best 96 total bases. He also led the league in doubles with 16 and home runs with nine. Lentz further racked up an impressive total of 33 RBIs and 29 runs scored. He featured a .608 slugging percentage to go with a .436 on-base percentage.
Furthermore, Lentz was a two-time SW Bat Player of the Week during the 2004 season, earning the honor in weeks six and eight. In week six, he started all four games for the Stingers, finishing with a .529 average, while tallying nine hits, two doubles, a homer, notching four runs scored and five RBIs. Then in week eight, Lentz made the start seven times, sporting a .444 average with 12 hits, three doubles, three home runs, seven runs scored and eight RBIs.
2004 SW Bat Co. Hitters of the Week
Hitter of the Week (Week 9):
Jason Hurst (Georgia Southern) Edenton (Week 9)
Hitter of the Week (Week 8):
Tommy Lentz (Winthrop) Spartanburg (Week 8)
Hitter of the Week (Week 7):
Steve Singleton (San Diego) Thomasville (Week 7)
Co-Hitters of the Week (Week 6):
Tommy Lentz (Winthrop) Spartanburg (Week 6)
Steve Singleton (San Diego) Thomasville (Week 6)
Hitter of the Week (Week 5):
Jay Cox (UNC) Fayetteville (Week 5)
Hitter of the Week (Week 4):
Kelly Sweppenhiser (VMI) Peninsula (Week 4)
Hitter of the Week (Week 3):
Justin Barefoot (Clemson) Wilson (Week 3)
Co-Hitters of the Week (Week 2):
Jaime Landin (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) Edenton (Week 2)
Tim Coffield (NC State) Wilmington (Week 2)
Co-Hitters of the Week (Week 1):
Dusty Bensko (Illinois) Wilmington (Week 1)
Peter Arroyo (New Mexico State) Petersburg (Week 1)