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Coca Cola Pitcher and Player of the Week #1

06/20/2010 12:11 PM

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COCA COLA PITCHER OF THE WEEK:


    The first pitcher to secure the Coca Cola Pitcher of the Week award is Falmouth’s Mark Pope (Georgia Tech). Pope was lights out in his only appearance to date. In a 1-0 victory over Cotuit, the right-hander fanned 11 Kettleers over seven shutout innings, surrendering only two hits. The 11 strikeouts were matched by only three other pitchers over the first week of games.

     A bright future lies ahead for the Georgia Tech sophomore. As a freshman, Pope was the Yellow Jackets’ closer, recording 18 scoreless innings in 25 appearances, good for a 5-1 record and eight saves. As a starter in 2010, he went 8-1. He was selected in the 18th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft, but elected to attend Georgia Tech.

COCA COLA PLAYER OF THE WEEK


      Chatham first baseman Rick Oropesa (USC) has been named the Cape League’s first Coca Cola Player of the Week of 2010. Over the opening week, Oropesa batted .304, but it was his power numbers that earned him the honor. The Trojans’ two home runs left him tied for the most in the league, while his seven RBI stand alone atop the leader board. A .609 slugging percentage, good for fourth in the league, coupled with a .429 on-base percentage make Oropesa a force at the plate.

     The sophomore success should not be a shock. Oropesa led USC last season in batting average (.353), home runs (20) and RBI (67). He was named All-America Second Team and received All Pac-10 honors after being selected Freshman All-America the previous season.

     Oropesa was drafted in the 24th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Boston Red Sox upon graduation from high school, before deciding to attend USC.