2008 POTW

2008 Rawlings CPL Defensive Player of the Year:

Justin Sarratt (Clemson) Thomasville HiToms
Sarratt, a sophomore from Clemson and Gaffney, S.C., made a total of eight appearances, all starts, on the mound this summer for the HiToms. Overall, the 5-10, 195-pound right-hander finished the regular season with a 7-1 record and a very impressive 1.06 ERA, the third lowest in the league. His seven wins were tied for second most in the CPL on the season. Furthermore, Sarratt featured two complete games, with one being a shutout of the Gastonia Grizzlies during game one of a doubleheader on July 12.

In 59 1/3 innings pitched, he allowed only eight runs - seven earned - on 35 hits, while walking a mere nine and striking out 57. Sarratt also held opposing batters to a low .172 average against him (third-best in CPL), and featured a league-best 0.74 WHIP on the regular season.

With Sarratt on the mound, Thomasville won the West Second Half Divisional crown in 2008. The HiToms also entered the 2008 CPL Petitt Cup Championship Tournament as the top seed and went on to win its third straight championship.

In the 2008 Petitt Cup Tournament, he made one appearance, a complete game effort against Peninsula in the second round. In nine innings of work, Sarratt gave up one run, earned, on 10 hits, walked none and struck out eight.

Sarratt also started the 2008 Coastal Plain League All-Star Game for the National CPL All-Star team, pitching one inning of hitless baseball. Even more noteworthy was that he was the only player during the 2008 season to be named a Rawlings Pitcher (or Hitter) of the Week for three weeks. He earned that honor during weeks three, four and six of the 2008 regular season.

2008 Rawlings Pitchers of the Week

Pitcher of the Week (Week 9):
Chas Byrne (East Tennessee State) Martinsville (Week 9)

Pitcher of the Week (Week 8):
Christopher Nelson (Chowan) Petersburg (Week 8)

Tri-Pitchers of the Week (Week 7):
Ryne Mantooth (Austin Peay State) Wilson (Week 7)
Tyler McBride (Winthrop) Columbia (Week 7)
John Cornley (Wofford) Outer Banks (Week 7)

Co-Pitchers of the Week (Week 6):
Justin Sarratt (Clemson) Thomasville (Week 6)
Mike Nihsen (Creighton) Fayetteville (Week 6)

Tri-Pitchers of the Week (Week 5):
Steve Batman (Florida Southern) Peninsula (Week 5)
Kevin Moreland (Christopher Newport) Peninsula (Week 5)
Alex Fairweather (Catawba College) Asheboro (Week 5)

Co-Pitchers of the Week (Week 4):
Chris Patterson (Appalachian State) Fayetteville (Week 4)
Justin Sarratt (Clemson) Thomasville (Week 4)

Tri-Pitchers of the Week (Week 3):
Steve Batman (Florida Southern) Peninsula (Week 3)
Justin Sarratt (Clemson) Thomasville (Week 3)
Luke Demko (Rhode Island) Edenton (Week 3)

Co-Pitchers of the Week (Week 2):
Brad Kledzik (Wake Forest) Gastonia (Week 2)
Luke Demko (Rhode Island) Edenton (Week 2)

Tri-Pitchers of the Week (Week 1):
Steve Grife (Mercyhurst) Florence (Week 1)
Daniel Barnes (Princeton) Petersburg (Week 1)
Carson McLean (UNC-Asheville) Asheboro (Week 1)

Additional Individual Power Pitching Performances
Daniel Wood (VMI) Petersburg (Week 1):
Wood, a 6-3, 180-pound lefty, made four appearances on the week in relief for the Generals, earning two saves. He finished with an ERA of 0.93 and struck out 12 in 9 2/3 innings of work.

John Anderson (Louisiana Tech) Thomasville (Week 4):
Anderson, a 6-2, 195-pound sophomore right-hander at Louisiana Tech, pitched a complete game, shutout on June 23 against rival Asheboro. In nine complete innings pitched, Anderson only gave up three hits and walked none, while striking out an impressive 13.

Sam Heaps (Elizabethtown College) Martinsville (Week 9):
Heaps, a 6-4, 200-pound junior from Elizabethtown College, pitched a complete game, shutout on August 2 against Florence. In nine innings pitched, the right-hander gave up just six hits, walked none and struck out 14.