Starratt earns National Pitcher of Week honors

Kyle Starratt of the Western Nevada College baseball team recently earned National Junior Collegiate Athletic Association Pitcher of the Week honors for his performance against Salt Lake Community College.

Starratt earned the national honor after giving Salt Lake Community College its first loss in the Scenic West Athletic Conference on March 14.

Starratt was named National Junior College Athletic Association pitcher of the week for his strong pitching at Salt Lake Community College. Starratt pitched a complete game three-hitter, striking out nine and walking one while allowing one run in a 6-1 win.

It's the first time in the program's three-year history that a Wildcat pitcher has received National Pitcher of the Week honors.

"Kyle pitched a nine-inning complete game, he had a perfect game going into the sixth inning and a no hitter into the seventh," WNC coach D.J. Whittemore said. "He won against a previously unbeaten team and finished with nine strikeouts."

Starratt also had an outstanding outing this past Friday at College of Eastern Utah. He pitched six shutout innings before coming out in a 5-3 win, allowing two hits and striking out eight. In SWAC action this season, Starratt is 3-1 with a 1.15 earned run average.

"Kyle is our No. 1 pitcher," Whittemore said. "He's been very consistent all year. He's extremely tough to hit early in the game. Other than a couple of outings where we left him in a little too long, he's been nearly perfect for us all season. He's a tremendous worker, a great leader. He's really deserving of the honor."