CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- The Appalachian League announced that Pulaski’s Alex DeMartino and JR Fordham were named Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for the period of July 15-21.
DeMartino, 21, garnered Hitter of the Week honors after batting .538 (7-for-13) with three home runs, seven RBI and six runs scored in four games for the River Turtles. He led all Appy League hitters during the period in average, OBP (.647), slugging (1.231), OPS (1.878) and homers while finishing second in total bases (16).
DeMartino homered in three straight games to begin the week en route to hitting safely in all four games for Pulaski. DeMartino reached base three times against Elizabethton on July 18, going 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, two runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. He connected on a solo homer the following day in a 1-for-3 showing, tallying another walk and steal, and launched a three-run homer at Bristol on July 20, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBI and a walk. DeMartino closed out the week against Bristol with a 2-for-3 performance that included a run scored and a walk.
A Raleigh, N.C., native, DeMartino enters the Appy League All-Star break as the circuit leader in average (.408), OBP (.517), slugging (.676) and OPS (1.193). He also ranks second in home runs (tied-5) and eighth in RBI (tied-24). DeMartino hit .288 with a team-leading .409 OBP this past spring as a UNC Wilmington redshirt sophomore, hitting eight home runs and 12 doubles with 39 RBI in 59 games. He also played for the 2022 River Turtles, producing an .823 OPS with five homers in 28 games.
Fordham, 20, earned Pitcher of the Week honors after he posted a 0.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts in two appearances, including one start, for the River Turtles. The right-hander led all Appy League pitchers during the period in ERA (tied) and strikeouts, and finished fourth in opponents’ average (.048) and fifth in WHIP (0.43).
Fordham delivered three hitless frames, striking out six, in relief for Pulaski at Greeneville on July 16. He allowed one baserunner in the outing, throwing 27 of 38 pitches for strikes. Making his first start of the season against Bristol on July 20, Fordham yielded one hit over four scoreless innings, mixing five strikeouts with two strikeouts on 52 pitches (32 strikes).
A Cochran, Ga., native, Fordham has not permitted a run in four appearances for the River Turtles this summer. He’s allowed just one hit in 11 2/3 innings, striking out 16 batters en route to a 0.60 WHIP and .029 opponents’ average. Fordham was 3-5 with one complete game in 15 appearances (12 starts) this past spring as an Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College sophomore. He is committed to East Tennessee State for the 2024-25 college season.
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