MOORHEAD, MN.- The official statistician of the American Association, Pointstreak, has announced that Sioux City Explorers’ RHP Justin Vernia has been named the league’s Rawlings Pitcher of the Month for the month of June.
Vernia made five starts in June, and went 4-0 while striking out 31.
The month wasn’t without adversity for the Spokane, Washington native. After delivering a five inning one-run start in his first June appearance, Vernia flopped against the Kansas City T-Bones, giving up six runs in 4.1 innings. That would, however, be the last subpar start of the month for the former Gonzaga Bulldog. Vernia went on to pitch three consecutive winning seven inning starts, allowing one against the Gary SouthShore Railcats on June 16, none against the Railcats on June 22, and one against the St. Paul Saints on June 27.
Vernia walked just five batters in his five starts. The Righty is now 5-1 on the season with a 3.32 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 46 innings of work.
Vernia has pitched for Sioux City since leaving Gonzaga in 2017. As a senior with the Bulldogs, Vernia went 7-3 with a 3.11 ERA and a 59/20 strikeout to walk ratio.
Rawlings is the official baseball of the American Association. They are located in St. Louis, MO and are the official helmet of Major League Baseball and the exclusive supplier of baseballs to Major League Baseball since 1977. For more information about Rawlings go to: http://www.rawlings.com.
