August 17, 2005
Methodist’s Brandt selected Rawlings Coastal Plain League Defensive Player of the Year

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Methodist Ryan Brandt capped off an awesome summer with the Fayetteville SwampDogs with his selection on Wednesday as the Rawlings Coastal Plain League Defensive Player of the Year.

Brandt, a rising senior and the ace of the Methodist pitching staff, made a total of 13 appearances on the mound this summer for the SwampDogs, including 11 starts. One of those starts came during the 2005 CPL Petitt Cup Tournament over the weekend, where Brandt pitched through eight complete shutout innings, surrendering only five hits and recording 11 strikeouts to earn the win in the SwampDogs’ first round game against Wilson.

His effort for Fayetteville at the 2005 Petitt Cup earned him the honor of being named the Rawlings Best Defensive Player of the 2005 Petitt Cup Tournament as well.

Overall, Brandt, a 6-5, 220-pound right-hander from Durham. N.C., finished the summer with an incredible 0.71 ERA to go along with an 8-2 record in garnering CPL All-Star status. In 75-and-two-thirds innings pitched, he gave up only 10 runs, six earned, on 50 hits. Even more impressive, however, were his numbers in both walks and strikeouts. On the season, Brandt only walked 11 batters, while striking out 77, giving him a 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Brandt was the ace of the Methodist starting rotation for the 2005 season, garnering first team All-USA South Athletic Conference honors and was selected USA South Pitcher of the Year. He went 7-2 with an impressive 2.14 earned-run average with 89 strikeouts and 19 walks in 88-and-a-third innings. In addition, Brandt recorded five complete games with two shutouts.

He led the USA South in games started, innings pitched and strikeouts, while ranking second in the conference in victories as the Monarchs finished 30-12 overall and won the USA South regular season championship.

Founded in 1997, the Coastal Plain League is a summer college baseball league that offers a premier developmental environment for college players hoping to hone their skills and display their talents during the summer. The CPL uses wooden bats exclusively, giving its players a head start on the transition from college to professional baseball.