(Press Release; Photo Credit: Christopher Kays)
The Southern Illinois Miners announce that left-handed pitcher Matt Bywater has won the Brian Tollberg Award as the 2014 Frontier League Pitcher of the Year. He has also been named the starting pitcher on the 2014 Frontier League posteason all-star team.
The Thousand Oaks, California native becomes the third Miner to win Pitcher of the Year honors in their eight-year franchise history, joining Ryan Bird (2008) and Joe Augustine (2010).
“I couldn’t be happier for Matt,” Miners manager Mike Pinto said. “He has worked extremely hard for this honor from the day he arrived here. His daily preparation for success and his consistent competitiveness on the mound have made him a standout in the league. I am confident great things are ahead for him.”
A southpaw with a unique, “vulcan” changeup pitch, Bywater has kept opposing hitters off balance all year. Entering play on August 31st, Bywater leads the Frontier League with 112 strikeouts, the third Miner ever with triple-digit strikeouts in a season (after Bird and Augustine). He also has been a workhorse on the mound, leading the league with 128 1/3 innings pitched. Sporting an 8-4 record and a stellar 2.38 ERA in 20 starts in 2014, the left-hander has allowed just 85 hits on the season, holding opponents to a miniscule .187 batting average while tossing 14 “quality starts” (minimum six innings pitched, maximum three earned runs), the most on the Miners staff.
“(This award is) a very well-deserved honor for him,” Miners pitching coach Preston Vancil said. “He has been such a consistent arm that we’ve been able to count on all season. This award speaks not only of his talents, but his tremendous season long work ethic. I could not be happier that he received this award and that he is a Southern Illinois Miner.”
