By CCL Reporters Sean Brennan, Sam Nute, and Dylan Wickman

The CCL is now into the latter half of the season, and teams are gearing up for postseason runs, which means the performances across the league are getting better and better. This week’s prime event was the CCL 30 Showcase Game, but many players put up strong numbers during league play to contend for Player of the Week honors.

The Week 6 hitters of the week are Lincoln Potters infielder Zachary Chamizo for the North Division and Conejo Oaks outfielder McCabe for the South. The best performances on the mound this week came from Walnut Creek Crawdads LHP Sean Fitzpatrick for the North and Academy Barons RHP Ruben Del Castillo down south. Read about how each player earned their award down below.

CCL North Division // Hitter of the Week

The Lincoln Potters’ have had two North Pitchers of the Week so far this year, and, for the first time this season, they have taken home North Hitter of the Week. Infiedler Zachary Chamizo (UC Riverside) is the Week 6 North Hitter of the Week for his performance in the Potters’ thrilling series against the Walnut Creek Crawdads. 

Chamizo has had an excellent season this year, finishing the first half with a .322/.453/.441 slashine. In the Potters’ first series of the second half they were going up against North Rival Walnut Creek Crawdads’, and, despite the series loss, Chamizo performed excellently. Across three games, Chamizo went 6-for-13 with five RBI and two triples. Chamizo was on the basepaths all series, scoring four runs with four walks. 

Chamizo’s slashline now is .347/.478/.500 with a monster .978 OPS. Last season with Sierra College, Chamizo hit .359 in 36 games played with 21 RBI and 15 walks. His performance earned him a transfer to UC Riverside for his Junior season.

CCL North Division // Pitcher of the Week

The Walnut Creek Crawdads’ have had an excellent year so far this season, and that is made obvious by the league-high ten players sent to the CCL 30 Showcase Game. One of those players, and arguably the Crawdads’ best pitchers, is LHP Sean Fitzpatrick from the University of Arkansas. 

In Fayetteville, Fitzpatrick is known by his popular nickname “Fitzmagic” and in his outing against the Lincoln Potters’ last week he played the part of magician. With the Crawdads’ down 6-2 and facing their first series loss since the beginning of the season, they called on Fitzpatrick for his longest outing of the season. Across 4.0 innings, Fitzpatrick shutout the Potters’ lineup while striking out eight batters and allowing zero hits and zero walks. 

In a season full of masterful outings, Fitzpatrick delivered his best and allowed the Crawdads’ vaunted offense to get back into the game and eventually come out with the victory, earning Fitzmagic the win along the way. So far this season, the Spring, Texas native has a 1.89 ERA across 19 innings pitched walking just four batters compared to 27 strikeouts. 

Fitzpatrick is set up to play a key role as the Crawdads’ battle with the Healdsburg Prune Packers for the CCL North Division Crown.

CCL South Division // Hitter of the Week

For the first time this season, a member of the Conejo Oaks has been selected as CCL South Division Hitter of the Week, with outfielder McCabe Moyer (Oregon) securing the award thanks to a monster four-game stretch at the plate. Moyer was one of four Oaks named to the CCL 30 Showcase Game on Jul. 12, and his recent play only confirmed he was deserving of his spot in the midsummer classic.

Entering Week 6 with a respectable .272/.367/.412 slashline on the season, the Washougal, Washington native proceeded to go 10-for-19 while logging two extra-base hits, four RBI, and just one strikeout – a performance that improved his average to .329. He recorded multiple hits in three of his four games and played a major role in Conejo’s two-game sweep of the Riptide, but Moyer’s best outing undoubtedly came on Jul. 15 against the Saints.

Moyer proved a bright spot in a 16-3 Oaks loss in Pasadena, as he finished the night a home run shy of the cycle and went a perfect 4-for-4. The rising sophomore once again caused probems for Arroyo Seco a day later – this time in a winning effort – going 2-for-5, swiping two bags and scoring a pair of runs to total six knocks through the two-game series.

Moyer will look to build off his big week and remain a catalyst as Conejo fights for a playoff spot down the stretch.

CCL South Division // Pitcher of the Week

The MLB Academy Barons take home their second South Division Pitcher of the Week honor this week. RHP Ruben Del Castillo (Wagner College) earned it for them by carving in his squad’s final game of the week against the San Luis Obispo Blues. 

The Diamond Bar, California native had a special performance that saw him throw a no-hitter in 6.0 innings. In the process, Del Castillo struck out ten batters, which is tied for the highest number of strikeouts anyone in the CCL has had this season. It was a dominant performance in all facets that set the Barons up for success, but they couldn’t close it out and were walked off in the 10th innings.

Del Castillo played well in his senior season as a relief pitcher for the Seahawks last season. His best performance came in his 5.0 innings against Sacred Heart University on April 22, when he struck four batters and surrendered only a hit. Del Castillo does not plan to stop pitching in Division 1 baseball and will become a graduate transfer next season.

Del Castillo has had no problems finding the strike zone this season, averaging 15 K’s per nine innings in his three appearances. He’s posted an impressive 1.06 WHIP this summer with an ERA of 2.25. He’ll look to continue retiring batters for the Barons as they try to gain some momentum in the late stages of the season.