Pillow Academy junior Dayne Sanford has been named the Commonwealth’s 2022 Player of the Year for the prep baseball season.
Sanford pitched and played shortstop and third base for the 8-18 Mustangs this past season.
“Dayne is just a great, talented kid who is going to keep getting better,” said former Pillow head coach Jud Thigpen, who is now on staff at Washington School. “He had some shoulder issues during the season, so we didn’t throw him as much.
“He worked so hard in the weight room to get stronger, and he worked hard every day in practice. He is exactly what you want in a player.”
Sanford only went 1-4 on the mound, striking out 24 and walking 10.
At the plate, he had 81 at-bats with 34 total hits for a .420 average.
Sanford had 21 singles, four doubles, one triple and eight home runs. He also drove in 34 runs and scored 24 times.
Thigpen believes Sanford can play baseball on the next level.
“He has all the tools,” Thigpen said. “Dayne has the athletic ability and the mindset to play college ball.
“He is just going to get better.”
Contact Calvin Stevens at 662-581-7234 or cstevens@gw-commonwealth.com.
