March 30, 2009

NEMCC PITCHER LEADS NATION IN SAVES

BOONEVILLE, Miss. – Northeast Mississippi Community College sophomore pitcher Patrick Hinton (Kossuth) used a save against North Division foe Northwest Mississippi Community College on Saturday, March 21 to move into first place in the nation in saves.

Hinton has become the Tigers go to closer under Northeast head coach Kent Farris.

Hinton was a starting pitcher in high school and quarterback during his four years at Kossuth High School before finding his niche’ at Northeast.

The KHS graduate finished third in the nation during the 2008 campaign recording 11 saves in 19 appearances.

Hinton fell two saves shy of the national lead in 2008 behind Southeastern Community College’s Luis Castrodad and Des Moines Area Community College’s Mitch Mormann.

During the 2009 season, Hinton has recorded seven saves in just eight opportunities – in the one game that he did not pick up a save – the Northeast pitcher knotched up his first win of the year.

The University of North Alabama signee has not given up a run during the Tigers 19-8 start to the 2009 season and has only allowed four hits against a 13-strikeout, four-walk effort.

Hinton is tied with Daniel Zapata from Scottsdale Community College, who took 15 games to reach the seven save plateau.

Hinton leads a list of national save leaders, which includes six pitchers from Mississippi in the top 10.

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Skylor Burts is third in the nation with six while Holmes Community College’s Ryne Smith and Itawamba Community College’s Josh Chism and Will Irvin all have four saves apiece and are all tied for fifth in the nation.

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