HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. - - Continuing to excel away from Jim Sherman Sr. Stadium at Wilson Field and Wilmington University, Josh Hampton was named the Rawlings Hitter of the Week for his first week of action in the Coastal Plain League as part of the Edenton Steamers.
Hampton started all five games for the Steamers during the week of May 28 to June 2. By the end of the week, he finished in the Top 5 in nine separate offensive categories including leading the league in hits (10), RBIs (9), doubles (2), total bases (20) and slugging percentage (1.053). Hampton also sported a .526 batting average, had three doubles, a home run and a .625 on-base percentage. For good measure, he also tacked on three stolen bases.
Four of those 10 hits in the first week came in one night, as he went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, including the game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth against the Wilmington Sharks on May 31. Hampton hit three doubles against the Sharks on Saturday, pushing his two-game total to eight-for-nine with a homerun, triple, three doubles, three singles, four runs, six RBIs, stolen base and a walk, also squaring off against the Sharks on Thursday night.
This past week, Hampton batted 4-for-17 in five games played from June 3 to June 8, collecting six more RBI while hitting one triple and scoring a run. On Saturday, Hampton hit a three-run double in the tenth to complete the comeback for the Steamers. Hampton now has 18 RBI in 11 games this season.
At the time of this release, the Steamers are currently 7-4 and in second place in the East of the CPL. Hampton and the Steamers start a strand of seven games in a row this week, starting tonight against Wilmington.
The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 17th season in 2013, 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 62 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 CoastalPlain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as CPLBaseball).