Brazos Valley Bombers starting pitcher Casey Whitmer has been named the TCL Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 25 to July 1, the Texas Collegiate League announced yesterday. It is the second weekly honor bestowed upon a Bombers player, following the Player of the Week award that third baseman Joseph Towns received in the second week of the season.
Whitmer earned the award after nearly breaking the TCL record for strikeouts in a regular season game on June 26 against the Coppell Copperheads. In seven innings, Whitmer struck out 14 Copperheads batters, allowing two hits and no runs. He fell just one strikeout short of the record of 15 whiffs in a game, set last season by Jess Todd.
For the week, Whitmer went 12.0 innings, giving up just seven hits and two runs. He walked only five and struck out a whopping 20 batters in his two starts.
Whitmer, who was just selected as the starting pitcher for the Speaker Division squad at next Monday’s TCL All-Star Game, is 1-1 on the season with a 1.76 ERA. His 44 strikeouts not only lead the league, but the closest competition trails him by 19 whiffs. He also leads the league with 30.2 innings pitched in which he has given up just 18 hits, with opposing hitters batting a paltry .166 against him.
After last night’s rained out doubleheader with Coppell, the Bombers will try again tonight in Duncanville against the Deputies.
The Bombers will return to Brazos Valley Bank Ballpark to celebrate America on Wednesday, July 4, with a special mid-week afternoon game. The first 500 fans will receive mini American flags and Skydive Aggieland will be parachuting into the ballpark with the American flag and the first pitch ball.
The team will go back on the road to finish out the week, followed by a four-day break for the TCL All-Star Game. The team will return home for a blockbuster three-game stretch at home, featuring Thirsty Thursday on July 12, Fireworks Friday on July 13, and Bombers T-shirt Giveaway Night on July 14.