Fallston High’s Brandon Del Pilar and Brendan Butler from John Carroll School are the week two recipients of Extra Innings’ Baseball Player of the Week award.
Del Pilar, a senior outfielder, went 3 for 5 with 2 RBI and a stolen base in two games. Against then-No. 2 C. Milton Wright March 28, he went 2 for 2 with a RBI and scored a run as the Cougars ended the defending Class 3A state champs ‘ 25-game winning streak.
“It was a huge game, we put a lot of emphasis on it,” said Del Pilar, whose team is ranked 18th in the latest Varsity Sports Network Top 20. “We got timely hits and great pitching.”
Del Pilar is batting .538 (entering this week) with three RBI and three runs scored. Last spring, he batted .395, scored 20 runs with 20 RBI and nine stolen bases for the Harford County school. As a sophomore in 2009, he batted .365 with 15 RBI as the Cougars reached the Class 3A state title game.
Last summer, Del Pilar played on the Oriolelanders fall travel team with area standouts K.J. Hockaday and Butler (John Carroll), AJ Lardo (Loyola Blakefield), Bobby Ruse (C.Milton Wright), and Justin Frantantuono. Del Pilar has been accepted to Towson University where he plans to walk-on to the Tigers’ baseball squad.
Butler, who has signed a scholarship to play for Towson, helped powered the Patriots to the No. 1 ranking. Against then-No. 1 Calvert Hall April 1, Butler drove in seven runs in a 20-9 rout.
The 6-foot-2, 200-pound infielder started the onslaught with a three-run homer in the first. He highlighted a six-run rally in the third with a double, then had a two-run double run as John Carroll built a 20-1 advantage.
“I was seeing the ball good,” said Butler. The whole team was seeing the ball great.”
For the week, Butler went 6 for 11 with two home runs and 10 RBI. He also scored six runs and had four doubles.
Each week during the spring season, Extra Innings will recognize an outstanding performance by a softball and baseball player. The winner will receive a plaque, courtesy of Extra Innings.
To nominate a player, send an e-mail to info@varsitysportsnetwork.com, no later than Monday at 1 p.m. each week. The nomination must cover games played Monday to Saturday from the prior week.
The contest is open to players on public and private baseball and softball teams in Baltimore County and Harford County, and Cecil County public teams.
