Southern League Hitter and Pitcher of the Week Awards
Published on May 5, 2008 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
The amazing beginning to LaPorta's first full professional season continued as he led the Southern League with a .526 average, three homers and 10 RBI during the past week. The seventh player taken in last year's draft, LaPorta did all of his damage in a five-game series at Montgomery. The 23-year-old slugged a go-ahead, three-run homer off fellow top prospect Jake McGee and added an RBI double in a 14-6 win on Wednesday. He enjoyed more success against another highly regarded prospect the following day, as he homered twice and doubled off Wade Davis to drive in all of Huntsville's runs in a 4-2 triumph. The native of Port Charlotte, FL capped the week with three hits and three runs scored as the Stars captured the rubber game of the series with Sunday's 11-3 victory. A former standout at the University of Florida, LaPorta leads all of Double A with 20 extra-base hits and a .716 slugging percentage. He and Mat Gamel have combined to win the last three weekly hitting awards for the Stars, who lead the league with 186 runs scored.
AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB AVG LaPorta 19 9 10 4 0 3 10 0 .526
Pitcher of the Week JUSTIN CASSEL, RHP, BIRMINGHAM BARONS
Cassel did not allow an earned run in his fourth consecutive start on Friday, pitching seven masterful innings in a 3-0 win against Mobile. The 23-year-old Cassel scattered five hits, issued one walk and recorded a career-high nine strikeouts as Birmingham took over sole possession of first place in the South Division. The native of Northridge, CA has not allowed an earned run since April 11, a span of 23 1/3 innings. A seventh-round pick in the 2006 draft, Cassel leads the Barons and ranks sixth in the league with a 1.38 ERA. Birmingham's five shutouts are two more than another other team in the circuit.
W-L IP SO BB H ERA SV Cassel 1-0 7 9 1 5 0.00 0
Southern League Stories from May 5, 2008
- Stars Survive Shaky Ninth to Beat BayBears - Huntsville Stars
- BayBears Knocked Below .500 by Stars - Mobile BayBears
- Samardzija Leads Tennessee over Chattanooga - Knoxville Smokies
- West Tenn 13 Mississippi 3 - Jackson Generals
- Biscuits hold off Barons, 2-1 - Montgomery Biscuits
- Samardzija Leads Smokies to 6-1 Win over Lookouts - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Biscuits Stump Barons, 2-1 - Birmingham Barons
- Barons' Cassel Named SL Pitcher of the Week - Birmingham Barons
- Smokies Add Henderson To Roster - Knoxville Smokies
- Houser suspended - Montgomery Biscuits
- Cromer back in Montgomery - Montgomery Biscuits
- Mudcats Roll Past Suns on Monday - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Jaxx make moves - Jackson Generals
- Stars Announce Meatloaf Day for May 24 - Huntsville Stars
- Southern League Hitter and Pitcher of the Week Awards - SL1
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