Pucetas Named Top Pitcher in SAL
Published on August 27, 2007 under South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Augusta GreenJackets News Release
Augusta, GA - The South Atlantic League Annual All-Star Team was announced and the Augusta GreenJackets have four representatives, second most in the league. Right-hander Kevin Pucetas, lefty Ben Snyder, shortstop Emmanuel Burriss and pitching Coach Ross Grimsley were all selected to the team.
Pucetas was not only selected as the top right-hander in the league, but he was also voted as the Most Outstanding Pitcher compiling a 15-3 record over the season. Pucetas currently has the top ERA in the league at 1.81, second best in all of Minor League Baseball when compared to pitchers who have pitched a full season. Pucetas also has struck out 101 batters to just 19 walks. Pucetas has yet to lose a game at home this season going 9-0 with a 0.91 ERA in 12 games and 10 starts.
Snyder was named as the top left-handed pitcher in the league as he currently sports a 15-5 mark. Snyder has the second best ERA in the league at 2.11. Snyder is ranked third in the SAL with 138 strikeouts while walking 31. Snyder won seven straight starts from June 4 - July 6 before receiving a no-decision on July 12. Snyder has lost just three times since the All-Star break and was perfect in June going 5-0 with a 1.74 ERA in five starts.
Shortstop Emmanuel Burriss tied the Asheville Tourists Hector Gomez for the top shortstop in the league. Burriss is ranked seventh in the league with a .319 batting average and has stolen 47 bases this season, third most in the league. Burriss has played in 82 games for Augusta and his batting average has been above the .300 mark since May 31, topping out as high as .392 on June 9. Burriss had a 12 game hit streak from May 30-June 13 going 25-for-52 (.481) and drove in seven RBIs over the streak.
Pitching Coach Ross Grimsley has guided the GreenJackets pitching staff to the best ERA among all full season baseball teams this year. With 133 games played and 1,177.1 combined innings tossed, the pitching staff has a combined ERA of 2.91. Only the Gulf Coast Yankees has a better mark with a 2.72 ERA in 59 games and 493.2 innings. Augusta has recorded 18 shutouts this year as well, tied for most in all of Minor League Baseball and four away from the SAL record of 22.
The end of the year All-Star Team is different from the mid-season All-Star Team because there is no North and South teams, just one team for the top players in the South Atlantic League among the 16 teams.
The GreenJackets have the best winning percentage among all full season baseball teams this year at .639 (85-48). No other team, at both the Major and Minor League level that plays a full season of baseball has a higher winning percentage. Augusta began the season winning 12 straight games, a SAL record, and clinched a playoff spot on June 12.
Augusta finishes its regular season home schedule on Tuesday, August 28th against the Greenville Drive. The GreenJackets will finish the regular season on the road in Kannapolis.
The GreenJackets open the SAL Southern Division Championship Series on the road Wednesday, September 5. Game 2 of the Divisional Series is on Friday, September 7 at Lake Olmstead Stadium with first pitch at 7:05 p.m.
For more information on the GreenJackets, promotions or tickets visit www.greenjacketsbaseball.com or call the ticket office at 706-736-7889.
South Atlantic League Stories from August 27, 2007
- Braves and Riverdogs Split Doubleheader - Rome Emperors
- Cumberbatch Steers Captains Past 'Birds in 12 - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Augusta Rallies for Win over Greenville - Augusta GreenJackets
- Drive Stung By GreenJackets, 7-5 - Greenville Drive
- Crawdads Topple Tourists to Open Series - Hickory Crawdads
- Kannapolis Wins, but is Eliminated from Playoffs - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- LaPorta, Green Homer in Power Win - Charleston Dirty Birds
- West Virginia Spoils Legends Night - Lexington Legends
- Byrd, Blueclaws Beat Suns - Hagerstown Suns
- Suns Offer Fantasy Football at the Ballpark - Hagerstown Suns
- Byrd Dazzles in 3-1 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- BlueClaws Add Fireworks to Wednesday's Game - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Principal Financial Group Family Fun Fest Monday - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Hilligoss Selected as Year-End All-Star - Charleston RiverDogs
- Two Gnats Return, Two Gnats Depart - Savannah Sand Gnats
- Richmond Placed on Suspended List - Rome Emperors
- Pucetas Named Top Pitcher in SAL - Augusta GreenJackets
- RiverDogs Prepare for Playoffs - Charleston RiverDogs
- Two Intimidators Named to 2007 Annual All-Star Team - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
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