Monday, November 5, 2068
IPA PRESENTS AWARDS FOR THE 2068 SEASON
The Islandian Pro Alliance just concluded its 68th season with the awarding of the batting, pitching and defensive honors... 10 awards were bestowed on the top players for the season... the Ruthlandian Union and Tycobbian Union presented their Golden Bat, Golden Arm, Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Golden Glove Awards.
TOP RUTHLANDIAN UNION HONORS GO TO BARTELS, MEISNER AND 2-WAY PLAYER HATFIELD
Wynnamac's super outfielder Snooky Bartels nabbed his second RU Golden Bat honor by beating out his teammate Manny Sendejas and Ancona's Marcellus Dillaway... Bartels first won the Golden Bat in 2061... for the year Bartels sizzled with a .342 BA in 148 games... he piled up 206 hits, 40 doubles, 1 triple, 16 home runs, 107 RBIs and scored 112 runs.
A sparkling 19-4 record for the year just about says it all... that's the numbers Mark Meisner of the Claxton Diamonds put up this season... his is the recipient of the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm trophy... Meisner is on an absolutely amazing run... this is the fourth consecutive season he has copped the top pitcher award... this season the 32-year-old southpaw outpolled Zac Chandler of LaGrange and Mitch Switzer of the Fort Benton Generals.
The 2068 RU Rookie of the Year is a rare breed in IPA baseball circles -- a two-way player -- not only did Tuffy Hatfield toe the rubber for the Kilkenny Cats, he also handled first-base duties as well... Hatfield was 14-12 with a fine 2.95 ERA for the cellar-dwelling Cats, but he also batted .251 with 17 homers and 62 RBIs in 110 games... Hatfield won the Golden Glove this year as a pitcher, but he also stood out at first base with a .996 FA in 79 games.
Ollie Daggs, shortstop for the Eastshore Cotton Kings finished second in the top rookie voting, while Slim Korndorfer of the Rocky Rapids Snappers finished in the third spot.
The all-important RU Most Valuable Player Award went again to Mark Meisner of Claxton... he bested two Wynnamac stars for the acclaimed honor... this was Meisner's first MVP trophy... he paced the Diamonds to their 6th straight RU South Division title... Golden Bat winner Snooky Bartels and Manny Sendejas finished second and third in the MVP poll... the pair led the Sundowners to the RU East pennant... that's the 3rd division crown in the last 5 years for the Macs.