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Accolades continue for Schuster

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 12, 2009

Updated: 06/12/2009 12:56 am

It has been an interesting week for Mitchell High's Patrick Schuster.

Wednesday, the left-handed pitcher was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 13th round of the Major League Baseball first-year player draft. Thursday, he was named Florida's Mr. Baseball by the Florida Dairy Farmers.

Schuster, a senior pitcher/first baseman, finished the 2009 season with an 8-1 record, 0.93 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 60 innings. Schuster also recorded five no-hitters and gained national exposure by throwing four consecutive no-hitters.

"This is a great honor for me and my team," said Schuster, the first Pasco County player to win the award. "It was a good season and I got a lot of publicity, but I couldn't have done it without my teammates so I will accept this award for them, as well."

Schuster, who played first base when not on the mound, finished with a .403 batting average, three doubles, one home run, 21 runs scored and 21 RBIs as the Mustangs finished 22-4.

"This is a tremendous award for Patrick," Mitchell coach Scot Wilcox said. "Most people know Patrick for his pitching but they don't know how valuable he was to our team in other ways. His leadership was outstanding and he was our best defensive player."

Schuster, the Class 6A player of the year, earned six first-place votes and 94 points from a statewide panel of high school coaches and media. Plant pitcher/shortstop Mychal Givens, the 5A player of the year, was third among the six finalists. Also, Cambridge Christian coach Rick Shears, the 1A coach of the year, was sixth in the voting for the state's overall coaching award.

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