Varela-Payne Named MEC Pitcher of the Week

BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Sophomore pitcher Kaden Varela-Payne of the Concord University baseball team has been voted as the Mountain East Conference Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon.

Varela-Payne, a native of Raleigh, North Carolina, was nearly unhittable in his second start of the season for the Mountain Lions.

Over seven innings of work against Ferrum Sunday afternoon, he struck out eight batter while only surrendering three hits and a run. He faced just one over the minimum over the first five inning as he racked up seven of his eight punchouts in the first 15 outs of the game.

Varela-Payne recorded at least one strikeout in the first six innings of the contest, and did not allow a runner past first base until the top of the sixth inning.

Though he received a no-decision in the game, Varela-Payne aided in CU limiting Ferrum to one run in a 2-1 win in 12 innings.

Wheeling's Edward Mateo was the MEC Player of the Week for the first week of the season.