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Belhaven Pitcher Craig Westcott Wins 2009 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy

JACKSON, Miss., May 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Belhaven College pitcher Craig Westcott won the 2009 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy on Monday night as Mississippi's college baseball player of the year during a special awards program at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090518/CG19044-a)

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090518/CG19044-b)

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Westcott, a senior fromChalmette, LA, edged out two other finalists, Ole Miss senior pitcher Scott Bittle, the 2008 Cellular South Ferriss Trophy recipient, and Southern Miss senior infielder Brian Dozier, for the award. Bittle had a 5-2 record with three saves and a 2.17 ERA in 2009 while Dozier hit .394 on the year for the Golden Eagles with 13 doubles and 39 RBI's.

"I'm humbled to receive this award," said Westcott, who struck out 124 batters on his way to setting a new Belhaven record for most strikeouts in a season to go along with an 11-4 record and a 3.29 ERA. "There are so many great baseball players that have been considered for this award, including the other finalists in this year's competition. I'm just happy to be mentioned in the same breath with them."

Westcott finished the year among the top ten pitchers in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings at 12.66 and had seven complete games, five shutouts, two no-hitters and held opposing hitters to a .199 batting average while giving up only 27 walks in 90 innings of work. He also led the team in hitting with a .343 batting average and 64 RBIs.

Westcott, who was accompanied to the awards program by Belhaven College head baseball coach Hill Denson, teammates, family members and friends, broke the Blazers' single-season record of 108 strikeouts set by Josh Garrett in 2002.

The finalists and eventual recipient of the Cellular South Ferriss Trophy are selected by a panel of 25 Major League scouts, college coaches and a media representative. Players at all of Mississippi's four-year baseball programs are eligible for the honor, which has been presented annually since 2004.

The award is named afterShaw, MS native Dave "Boo" Ferriss, a former Mississippi State All-American player and long-time Delta State head coach who is an inductee in the Boston Red Sox and Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

The Cellular South Ferriss Trophy is one of Cellular South's Outstanding Player Awards administered by the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame & Museum. The award series also includes the Cellular South Howell Trophy, honoring Mississippi's best collegiate men's basketball player of the year, Cellular South Gillom Trophy, honoring the best collegiate women's basketball player, and the Cellular South Conerly Trophy, honoring Mississippi's best collegiate football player.

SOURCE Cellular South