Burch, Heard American Association Rookies of the Year
September 2, 2009 - American Association (AA) News Release
DURHAM, NC - The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball announced today that Pensacola Pelicans DH Chase Burch and Shreveport-Bossier Captains RHP Jimmy Heard were selected by the league's field managers and media as the 2009 Rookie Player and Rookie Pitcher of the Year respectively.
Burch hit .341 with nine home runs, 65 RBI and 114 hits. The native of Fultondale, AL tied for third in on-base percentage and was fourth in batting average. Burch graduated from Auburn-Montgomery in 2008. He batted .407 for the Senators with 16 homeruns and 64 runs batted in and was named MVP of the Southern States Athletic Conference Tournament. Burch represented the Pelicans at the 2009 All-Star Game in July.
Heard was 7-1 on the season with an earned run average of 1.76 in 11 starts. He struck out 50 batters in 66 1/3 innings pitched and was named the Meyvn Baseball Company's July Pitcher of the Month. The Shreveport native is a graduate of Northwestern State University. He went 7-4 with a 4.57 ERA in 13 starts as a senior, striking out 63 in 82 2/3 innings pitched. Heard made the All-Southland Conference team and became the school's career leader in strikeouts and innings pitched.
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