CATS MCCUSKER, MINERS BAKER TAKE WEEKLY AWARDS.
June 5th, 2023 - For the second week in a row, our player of the week award is going east. This time to ValleyCat right fielder Carson McCusker.
The 6'8, 250 pound slugger from Sparks, Nevada by way of Oklahoma State led the league in batting average, slugging percentage, Home Runs and RBI over the last week.
McCusker started the week fast, going 3 for 5 with two RBI and a HR as Tri-City opened a midweek series against the Aigles with a narrow 13-12 defeat. He added another RBI the next night as the ValleyCats drew level in the series.
On Thursday, McCusker drove in another and picked up two hits as the Cats closed out a series win.
On Friday, McCusker and the ValleyCats welcomed Mark Mason's greys into town for a three game weekend set. McCusker ended up being the entirety of the Cats offense for the night as he drove in three on two hits, including a HR as the Greys took the opener 9-3.
The next night the Cats took revenge to the tune of a 12-1 drubbing over the Greys, McCusker kept his hot streak alive, adding another HR and two more RBI. On Sunday he added two more hits as Tri-City took the rubber match 7-2.
For the first time this year, the pitcher of the week award is heading to Garden State and the east division leading Sussex County Miners. Thanks to a one hit, complete game shutout from Griffin Baker on Sunday afternoon.
The 6'2 lefty from Durham, North Carolina played his college ball at Belmont Abbey College and is at his second stop in the Frontier League after a stint in Florence last year.
The crafty southpaw needed 111 pitches to tally nine punch outs while only allowing four baserunners as he went the distance in the Miners 14-0 beat down of the Boulders. This was Baker's first win of the season and fifth of his Frontier League career.
Chris Widger's defense held firm behind Baker, turning three double plays enroute to an East leading 13th win.
Baker's next start will likely be at home next Saturday versus the Boulders, as he'll look to duplicate the success he had Sunday against them.
Baker photo credits: Phil Hoops
