Published: July 02, 2009 02:43 pm      

2009 Player of the Year, Ryne Poplin

Thursday, July 2, 2009 — 2009 Player of the Year

Ryne Poplin, South Stanly

Pitchers

Wes Hatley (SSHS): Hatley finished the 2009 season with an 8-3 record and a 1.13 ERA. In 82 innings pitched, Hatley had 141 strikeouts, a new record at South Stanly (possibly a county record as well). Opponents batted just .145 against Hatley. In the state playoffs, Hatley was 5-0 with 59 strikeouts, a 0.62 ERA, and the opposition only hit .064.

Ryne Poplin (SSHS) Poplin finished the season with a 1.92 ERA and opponents for the season only batted .160 against him. In 83 innings of work, Poplin allowed 14 earned runs and struck out 54.

Tyler Westall (WSHS): As the Colts’ No. 1 starter, Westall posted a 10-0 record, with an ERA of 1.75 in 56.2 innings pitched, 25 walks and 52 strikeouts.

Adrian Shepherd (NSHS): A workhorse left-hander for the Comets, Shepherd had a 2.23 ERA in 50 innings of work, with 27 walks and a team-high 73 strikeouts.

Corey Hartis (WSHS): Despite having an injured elbow and ankle, Hartis became the go-to man in the Colts’ bullpen. In 28.2 innings pitched, he had an ERA of 1.75 with 10 walks and 22 strikeouts.

Catcher

Tyler Eudy(WSHS): Batting cleanup for the RRC champion Colts, Eudy finished the season with a .515 batting average (34-for-66), leading the Colts with seven doubles and nine home runs. Eudy had 24 RBI on the season, striking out just three times in 66 at-bats.

Infielders

1B Colten Burris (SSHS): hit .414 this season with six home runs and a team-high 41 RBI.

1B Josh Cochran (WSHS) was a hitting machine for the Colts with a .458 average, five doubles, a home run and 14 RBIs.

2B Shane McConologue (AHS) delivered a .352 batting average with four doubles and 12 RBI’s for the Bulldogs.

2B Kevin Van Asch (WSHS) hit .375 for the Colts and led the team with eight sacrifices and 15 stolen bases.

3B Corey Dick (AHS) was among the tops in the state at the plate, with a .519 batting average, 12 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBIs (number one in the state). The sophomore had 41 hits in 79 at bats.

SS Ryne Poplin (SSHS) was among the state’s best at the plate, hitting .480 with 10 doubles, 12 home runs (second in the state in all classifications), 34 RBIs, and only 10 strikeouts in 116 at-bats

SS Tyler Westall (WSHS) also gave the Colts offensive punch with a .351 average, six doubles, five home runs and 20 RBIs.

DH Ethan Austin (NSHS) led the Comets with a .367 batting average and a team-best .493 on-base percentage.

Outfielders

LF Matt Huneycutt (NSHS) hit a solid .290 for the Comets this season, with 19 runs scored and just 15 strikeouts in 69 at-bats.

CF Demetrius Ingram (WSHS) showed solid defensive play in center field, as well as hitting .416 this season with five doubles, two triples, seven home runs and 23 RBIs from the leadoff slot.

RF Alex Robichaud (AHS) hit .329 for the Bulldogs with seven doubles, three triples, four home runs and 21 RBI.