Weismann is Gatorade P.O.Y

Acton-Boxboro ace Scott Weismann has been named the Gatorade Massachusetts baseball Player of the Year for the 2008 season.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior right-handed pitcher compiled a 6-2 record with a 0.96 ERA and 85 strikeouts through 51 innings during the regular season. Weismann also boasted a .404 batting average with 17 runs scored and 10 RBIs through 19 games.

"He’s dominant on the mound,” said Acton-Boxboro coach Patrick Grucela. "He’s got a great competitive spirit, and he’s just ferocious. You can tell he just means business. Whenever he’s on the mound, he gives us a chance to win. He’s been our leader in wins and our leading hitter the last two years. If I get another Scott Weismann in my coaching career, I’ll be lucky. You just can’t replace a kid like that overnight."

Weismann is bound for Clemson in the fall.

You can read the full press release after the jump.

ACTON-BOXBORO HIGH SCHOOL STANDOUT NAMED GATORADE MASSACHUSETTS BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CHICAGO (May 28, 2008) — In its third decade of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, The Gatorade Company, in partnership with RISE Magazine, today announced Scott Weismann of Acton-Boxborough High School as its 2007-08 Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year. Weismann is the first Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Player of the Year chosen from Acton-Boxborough High School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Weismann as Massachusetts’ best high school baseball player. Weismann is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year award to be announced in June.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior right-handed pitcher started 6-2 this season with a 0.96 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 51 innings this season, leading the Colonials to an 11-8 record at the time of his selection. A three-time Dual County League All-Star and two-time DCL Most Valuable Player, Weismann had produced a .404 batting average, 17 runs scored and 10 RBI through 19 games. He had also compiled a .577 slugging percentage and a .521 on-base percentage. Weismann concluded his junior season with a 5-2 record and a 1.30 ERA, recording 47 strikeouts in 52 innings in addition to a .400 batting average and 22 RBI.

Weismann has maintained a B average in the classroom. He volunteers as part of multiple community-service initiatives, coaching local youth baseball teams in addition to donating his time as a mentor and instructor on behalf of Acton-Boxborough Youth Baseball.

“He’s dominant on the mound,” said Acton-Boxborough Head Coach Patrick Grucela. “He’s got a great competitive spirit, and he’s just ferocious. You can tell he just means business. Whenever he’s on the mound, he gives us a chance to win. He’s been our leader in wins and our leading hitter the last two years. If I get another Scott Weismann in my coaching career, I’ll be lucky. You just can’t replace a kid like that overnight.”

Weismann has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball at Clemson University this fall.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field. The selection process is administered by RISE Magazine, which works with top sport-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists
to determine the state winners in each sport.

Weismann joins recent Gatorade Massachusetts Baseball Players of the Year Jack McGeary (2006-07, Roxbury Latin School), Dan Godefroi (2005-06, Andover HS) and Nate Freiman (2004-05, Wellesley HS) among the state’s list of former award winners.

For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination information, a list of past winners, and the announcement of the Gatorade National Player of the Year, visit gatorade.com/playeroftheyear.