SARRATT SHINES IN HiTOMS DEBUT
Local hurler continuing stellar play with Clemson, HiToms
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger SportsWriter spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Justin Sarratt delivers a pitch during a relief appearance for Clemson this spring. The former Gaffney High standout has set up shop this summer with the HiToms in the Coastal Plains League in Thomasville, N.C.

Justin Sarratt won his first start Wednesday in the HiToms 5-4 victory over the Gastonia Grizzlies.

Sarratt allowed only one run and struck out six batters in five innings. He pitched a scoreless ninth inning on Sunday, hours after the 2006 Gaffney High graduate joined his teammates in Thomasville, N.C.

It was the same vintage performance that the Clemson pitcher become known for in a stellar baseball career at Gaffney High. Sarratt was 17-6 with 204 strikeouts over his last two years with the Indians.

As a Clemson freshman, Sarratt went 0-1 and averaged a strikeout an inning in 13 appearances. He pitched against quality ACC competition and successful programs such as Georgia and the University of South Carolina.

Clemson went 41-23 before falling in the Super Regionals to Mississippi State.

Sarratt will spend the summer pitching for the HiToms in the Coastal Plains League. The league features 15 teams in Virginia, North and South Carolina.

Several of Sarratt's Clemson teammates helped the HiToms win the championship last season.

"This first year was a great experience. College baseball is a whole lot different from what I was used to," Sarratt said. "We had a lot of great pitchers at Clemson who gave me a lot of good advice. I learned so much about how to pitch. The level of competition is so much better."

The playing field won't get any easier on the practice field in Thomasville.

Sarratt is rooming with Clemson second baseman J.D. Burgess.Their team includes six SEC and seven ACC baseball players including Rich Pothyres (Georgia), Zach Miller (Ole Miss) and Hunter Rome (UNC).

The HiToms are in the midst of playing 11 games in a row. Their games will take the team all over the Carolinas before the season ends Aug. 12.

The HiToms will play the Spartanburg Stingers eight times this summer. The HiToms won Sunday's game, 10-2.

Sarratt hopes this summer's experience will open the door for more playing time with Clemson this year.

Clemson has already lost several members of this year's pitching staff and incoming recruits in the major league draft. Staff ace Daniel Moskos was the No. 4 overall pick.

"I gained a lot of valuable experience this year. I was put in situations where I got to pitch before big crowds," Sarratt said. "There definitely could be more of an opportunity next year. I'm looking forward to getting better this summer to compete for a bigger role."

Local residents can keep track of Sarratt and his team online at: www.hitoms.com.