Kyle Kaminska named SAL pitcher of the week…

Righty Earns Greensboro’s First Weekly Award of 2008

Greensboro, N.C. – Greensboro’s Kyle Kaminska was selected as the co-Pitcher of the Week in the South Atlantic League after posting a 2-0 record in two appearances and not allowing an earned run in all of his 11 innings on the mound.

Delmarva’s Cole McCurry, who posted a 2-0 record with a 0.75 ERA, was also selected as the co-pitcher of the week.

Kaminska made his first start of the week on the road in Lakewood and left the game after six complete innings with a no-hitter in tact. In what was arguably the best start by a Greensboro pitcher this season, Kaminska walked one batter and struck out five.

He returned atop the hill at NewBridge Bank Park on Sunday and although his consecutive innings without allowing a hit streak was snapped at 7 2/3 innings, he tossed five innings without allowing an earned run and picked up his second win in as many tries.

“Kyle’s obviously pitching very well for us right now,” said Greensboro pitching coach John Duffy. “He’s a guy that knows what he’s doing on the mound. If you trust your stuff and pitch to make contact you’re going to get good results and that’s all he’s doing.”

In all, opponents hit for just a .100 average (4-for-40) off of Kaminska in his two starts last week; all four hits were singles.

“I believe that 90 percent of pitching is confidence in your abilities and he’s shown, especially in the last two games, that he is very confident on the mound,” Duffy added. “His work has been able to keep our team in the game and that’s all we can ask for.”

Kaminska is the first Grasshopper to be honored by the league this season and the first since Scott Cousins was named the SAL player of the week on Aug. 27 of last season. Graham Taylor was the last pitcher to be honored by the league; he was named the pitcher of the week on May 22, 2007.

*****from Justin Stottlemyre Hoppers’ media assistant*****