UTICA — Utica High School pitcher Michael Sandman has been chosen as the 2008 Mount Vernon News Pitcher of the Year.

The Redskins’ junior, who was 5-2 and posted a microscopic 1.83 ERA in 46 innings this season, was a little surprised at the announcement.

“This is really exciting,” said the former Newark Catholic student. “You know, I was trying to prove some things to a lot of people. When I think of all of the hard work that I put in from the end of last summer season until the first game of this year, the results just really made it all worth it.”

The Mid-Buckeye Conference’s ERA leader and runner-up in strikeouts (54) had to face some of the best teams in and out of the area.

“Not only did he pitch well in league competition,” said Utica baseball coach Bren Henderson, “but he went up against the Pickerington Norths, Dublin Coffmans and other strong DI programs and really pitched great.”

“Our schedule was more demanding,” said Sandman. “In our non-league, we played a lot of big DI schools, so it was pretty tough on us every Saturday and every couple of days in the week, that we weren’t playing in the league, to go out and play those big schools.”

Sandman, who was second in the area in home runs (four) and doubles (nine), was also among the leading area players in several batting categories. He landed in the top 10 in average (.439), RBI (30), runs (22) and hits (37).

“A lot of people think that Mike is a pitcher first, but his hitting was outstanding and he drove in quite a few runs,” said Henderson.

Sandman is a fierce competitor, who is always finding a way to win.

“He is an outstanding competitor,” said Henderson. “He doesn’t give in to a batter. He throws certain pitches in certain counts. You absolutely have to compete and he just wants to do that.”

Henderson enjoys Sandman’s influence in the dugout as well as on the field.

“Michael keeps the team loose,” said Henderson. “He knows when to crack some jokes with the guys and when to buckle them down. He is a team-first kind of a kid who is great to have in the dugout when he’s not on the mound.”

Among the many challenges this year, Sandman had to go head-to-head against 2008 Mount Vernon News Player of the Year, Ryan Hathaway of Fredericktown.

“We got to play Fredericktown a couple of times this year and [Hathaway] is one of the better, more disciplined hitters that I have had to face,” said Sandman. “He gets right up there on the plate and challenges you to throw him strikes. He battled and never gave in. I think I walked him a few times, but I got him on a strikeout one time. His dad was the first base coach and he told me that I was one of the few that actually got him, so I am proud of that.”

The good news for the Redskins and their fans is that Sandman has another year of high school left and he keeps getting better.

“Hopefully, we can help him get a little better control of his curveball so he can throw it in any count,” said Henderson. “We are working on some delivery changes with his curve. Maybe we can pick up a couple of miles an hour more on his fastball and we will work on a fourth pitch with him this summer. Otherwise, we don’t want to mess with him too much.”

Rounding out the All-Area First Team are: C — Zach Melton, Mount Vernon; 1B — C.J. Ruhl, Fredericktown; 2B — Kolton Wilson, Mount Vernon; SS — Aaron Beeman, Mount Vernon; 3B — Thomas Hinkle, Fredericktown; OF — Jerrod Ours, Utica; OF — Ryan Hathaway, Fredericktown; OF — Jake Hampton, Highland; and DH — Merrit Zollars, Fredericktown.