Fayetteville's Somsen Named 2012 Rawlings CPL Pitcher of the Year
August 22, 2012 - Coastal Plain League (Coastal Plain) News Release
The Coastal Plain League announced today that Layne Somsen (photo courtesy of Wanda West) of the Fayetteville SwampDogs has been named the 2012 Rawlings CPL Pitcher of the Year.
Somsen, a 6-0, 185-pound junior from South Dakota State went 5-0 with an impressive 1.29 ERA during the regular season. In seven starts the right-hander pitched 42 innings of work, surrendering just eight runs - six earned - on 18 hits. Meanwhile, he walked only 15 and struck out 47. He also was a part of two combined shutouts, featured a 0.79 WHIP and opposing batters hit a mere .129 against him.
Of his regular season statistics, Somsen finished in the Top 5 in the league of six different categories: ERA (tied-3rd), wins (tied-4th) opposing batting average (2nd), WHIP (3rd), fewest hits allowed (1st), and fewest runs allowed (tied-2nd).
In the postseason, Somsen made his only start count for the SwampDogs, pitching six innings of two-hit baseball to run his record to a perfect 6-0 on the summer. He gave up two earned runs and walked three in that time, but struck out eight and held opposing batters to a .100 average against him.
At the All-Star break, Somsen not only earned a spot on the roster, but was named the starting pitcher of the American CPL All-Stars. In one inning on the mound, he surrendered one walk and struck out one. Further, he was also selected as the Rawlings CPL Pitcher of the Week in week five of the regular season. That week, Somsen pitched a gem for the Swampdogs on June 29 versus the Martinsville Mustangs. Throwing seven quality innings for a combined shutout of the Mustangs, he earned a perfect 0.00 ERA and 1-0 record on the week. In seven innings of work, Somsen surrendered just three hits, walked one and struck out a league-best nine. Further, opposing batters hit just .120 against him, while he also sported a WHIP of 0.57 on the week.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 16th season in 2012, the CPL features 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with the use of wooden bats. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. Further more,the CPL has had over 1,000 alumni drafted and 55 alums - including 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young winner Justin Verlander - make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cpleague).
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Coastal Plain League Stories from August 22, 2012
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