GATEWAY'S PETER ZIMMERMAN WINS PLAYER OF THE WEEK, THUNDERBOLTS HENRY OMANA WINS PITCHER OF THE WEEK
May 22, 2023 - For the second consecutive week, the player of the week award belongs to a Gateway Grizzlie, Peter Zimmerman. The former Missouri Tiger posted a .600 batting average and 2.017 OPS to go along with four HRs, 11 RBI and seven runs scored.
Zimmerman started the week hot and didn't look back, smacking two hits and collecting an RBI in Tuesday's win over the Boomers. On Wednesday, the man they call Zim went 3 for 5 with three RBI and a round-tripper as Gateway rolled over the Boomers to the tune of 12 runs scored.
Then came the weekend set against Ottawa, the Friday game at Grizzlies Ballpark was billed as 11u dinger derby night. By the time the game was over, nobody in attendance would have batted an eye if it was billed Peter Zimmerman dinger derby night. The designated hitter went 4 for 5 with two RBI and two HRs as the Grizzlies offense exploded for 16 runs on 19 hits.
Zimmerman stayed nuclear hot on Saturday, hitting two more HRs and collecting three more RBI as Gateway posted crooked number after crooked number en route to another beatdown of Ottawa.
As Gateway hunted for a sweep on Sunday, Zim fell back to earth, collecting three walks and a stolen base as Ottawa staved off a sweep, winning the finale 6-4. By the time the dust had settled, Zimmerman had led the Grizzlies to a 4-2, 49 run week, next, Gateway travels to the Chicago suburbs for a three game divisional set with the Schaumburg Boomers.
The pitcher of the week award belongs to a veteran righty in the Chicago area, Windy City ThunderBolts own Henry Omana. The former Cal State Fullerton and Mexican baseball league hurler made one start this week, Tuesday against the Trois-Rivieres Aigles and he made it count.
Omana took the ball and decided he was not going to give it up, getting all 27 outs himself, including nine strikeouts, en route to a 125 pitch complete game shutout. Aigles leadoff man Nate Scantlin collected three hits while the rest of the lineup combined for only two as the 6 '4 California born righty gave his bullpen the day off and helped the ThunderBolts to a 4-0 win.
Omana will likely get the ball next on May 23rd at home against the Tri-City ValleyCats.
