The Coastal Plain League announced today that Thomas Bell of Peninsula was named Hitter of the Week, while Jonathan Cole of Fayetteville earned Pitcher of the Week honors for the first week of the CPL regular season (May 30 – June 8.) CPL Players of the Week are brought to you by Trackman Baseball, providing players and coaches next-generation analytical data all season long.

Bell, a sophomore at Old Dominion, started the regular season on a tear, batting a league high .536 across eight games and 28 at-bats for the Pilots. The shortstop was dominant in all phases, scoring a league-leading 11 runs while driving in seven and slugging .786 from 15 total hits, including two doubles, one triple and one home run. Bell also showed a great eye at the plate, notching six walks to help him to a .649 on-base percentage and one stolen base for the week.

On the mound, Cole made two appearances across the first 10 days of the season not allowing an earned run over 13 2/3 innings pitched. The junior from Franklin & Marshall’s first appearance came on Opening Night as he went a solid seven scoreless innings while striking out six for the win over the Wilmington Sharks. His second start was even more impressive as he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning versus the defending champion Morehead City Marlins before finishing with six 2/3 scoreless innings and four strikeouts. In total the right-hander allowed only three hits across both appearances for a 0.73 opponent’s batting average and 0.59 WHIP on the week.

About Coastal Plain League: 

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Heading into its 23rd season in 2019, the CPL features 16 franchises playing in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. To date, the CPL has had over 1,450 alumni drafted and 122 alums – including 2017 ALCS MVP, 2017 World Series champion, 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young award winner Justin Verlander, as well as 2017 NLCS MVP Chris Taylor – make their Major League debut. 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 Snapchat @CPLBaseball.