WEYMOUTH, Mass. (July 1, 2022) -- With more than the first month of the 2022 season complete, the Futures League has recognized its 78 Sports Player of the Month and ChangeUp Pitcher of the Month for May/June.
Both honorees have ties to the New England region, either hailing from Massachusetts or attending college in the state.
For the second straight summer, the Futures League’s first 78 Sports Player of the Month comes from the Division 3 ranks as Westfield Starfires catcher Jackson Hornung (Skidmore) earned the honor. Hornung quickly jumped to the top of the league leaderboards and has never left, posting a .385 average and 1.121 OPS while topping the circuit with six home runs, 29 RBI, 40 hits (16 for extra bases) and 71 total bases in 26 games, including 13 multi-hit efforts.
The month of June finished with Hornung having reached base in 17 consecutive games, which remains the longest active streak in the league. The Ashland, Mass., native’s hottest stretch was right out of the gate, however, as he logged multiple hits in all six May games to finish a whopping 16-for-24 with two doubles, one triple and 12 RBI in that short span.
ChangeUp Pitcher of the Month Sean Matson (Harvard) has been pristine in helping the reigning champion Vermont Lake Monsters get off to another outstanding start at 24-7, posting an ERA of 2.00 while striking out a league-high 47 batters in 27 innings. Matson has allowed just 20 hits, six earned runs and three walks in that span, which includes six starts.
Matson has pitched shutout ball in three of his outings, cementing the monthly honor with five scoreless, two-hit frames in a second straight win on Wednesday (June 29) at Pittsfield. The Harvard Crimson’s rising sophomore has fanned nine batters on three separate occasions this season, including each of his first two starts as a Lake Monster.
Matson has already won four Futures League Pitcher of the Night awards so far this summer, while Hornung is a three-time Player of the Night.
Headlined by Hornung and Matson, the Zorian Bats Team of the Month for May/June will be unveiled next week.
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