HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – The Coastal Plain League announced today that Michael Heesch of the Gastonia Grizzlies has been named the 2011 Rawlings CPL Defensive Player of the Year as voted upon by the CPL head coaches.

 A junior from the University of South Carolina Beaufort, Heesch quickly became head coach Jason Plourde's secret weapon and the ace of the Grizzlies pitching staff. Helping Gastonia to its first-ever CPL Petitt Cup championship, Heesch finished 2011 with an overall 2.08 ERA, league-best 9-0 record and 79 strikeouts – the second most in the CPL.

 The 6-6, 250-pound lefty went 6-0 in nine starts during the regular season, and then added another three wins in three starts in the 2011 Petitt Cup Playoffs. Even more impressive is that Heesch – and the Grizzlies - won every game he pitched in from July 1 through the championship game.

 Overall, he pitched 82 1/3 innings on the summer, surrendering just 22 runs – 19 earned – on 55 hits, while walking 10 and striking out 79. And he knew when to turn it up on the competition, lowering opposing team's averages against him from .201 in the regular season to a lousy .113 in the playoffs; as well as his WHIP from 0.91 to a ridiculous 0.43.

 In addition to that, Heesch also threw three complete games – two in the regular season – and combined for one shutout in the regular season and hurled another in the playoffs. Against the No. 3 seed Thomasville HiToms in the first round, Heesch pitched a complete game, shutout, in which he scattered four hits and struck out seven. Furthermore, in the decisive game three of the championship series at top-seeded Edenton, Heesch was practically untouchable, carrying a no-hitter through 5 1/3 innings and ultimately going six complete innings of one-hit baseball, walking one batter and striking out nine.

 Arguably the MVP on Gastonia's roster, Heesch helped lead the Grizzlies to a 35-29 overall record and the 2011 CPL Petitt Cup championship.

 The Coastal Plain League is the nation's hottest summer collegiate baseball league. Celebrating its 15th season in 2011, the CPL features 15 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. Furthermore, the CPL has had over 930 alumni drafted and 46 alums make their Major League debut thus far. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at www.coastalplain.com, and be sure to friend us on Facebook (at www.facebook.com/coastalplainleague) and follow us via Twitter (as cpleague).

Credited by Pat Grecinger