Thomasville’s Sarratt Named 2008 Rawlings CPL Defensive Player of the Year

Aug. 25, 2008

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Coastal Plain League announced today that Thomasville HiToms pitcher Justin Sarratt has been named the 2008 Rawlings CPL Defensive Player of the Year.

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.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league, now in its twelfth season. Featuring 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina andVirginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com.