Saturday, November 21, 2088
IPA MVP AWARDS GOES TO LAGRANGE SWINNERTON AND MAHASKA BENNIGAN
The IPA Year of 2088 was dominated by slugging first sackers. None were better than LaGrange first baseman Tory Swinnerton and Mahaska first sacker Byron Bennigan.
SWINNERTON CAPTURES 5TH RU MVP AWARD
LaGrange's Swinnerton was acclaimed the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player for the 5th time in his standout career. He is showing no signs of slowing down on the diamond. The 36-year-old star had another banner year and topped the RU for the 13th time in home runs and in RBIs for the 4th time. Swinnerton was also named the RU Golden Bat for the 3rd time in his career. This season he batted .298 in 148 games and piled up 56 homers, 134 ribbies and scored 124 runs. The Gators won the RU North Division for the 5th time in the last 8 years. Swinnerton has amassed massive numbers in 16 seasons with a .302 lifetime batting average, 683 roundtrippers, 1716 RBIs and 1600 runs scored. He has made the All-Star team 9 times and won 2 Golden Gloves. Swinnerton is currently ranked 11th in homers in IPA history. Another good season or two and he can move up to 4th place behind the legendary Jerry Culpepper (878 HR), Roy Roberts (872) and Jack Elliott (848 HR).
Coming in second the RU Most Valuable Player poll was Rocky Rapids fine first sacker Lee Drummond (152 games/48 HR/121 RBI/113 R). His Snappers wound up in third place in the RU West. Winding up in the third spot was Belle Plaine outstanding shortstop Jean-Paul Lacombe (149 games/35 HR/107 RBI/103 R). He paced the Musketeers to the RU East pennant and also to their very first Pro Cup crown. Lacombe was named the IPA Playoffs MVP as the standout postseason performer.
MAHASKA'S BENNIGAN HONORED WITH TU MVP FOR THE 3RD TIME
Among his many accolades Mahaska first baseman Byron Bennigan has won the Tycobbian Union Golden Bat Award in 2085, 2087 and 2088. Finally, this year the 27-year-old superstar snared his first TU Most Valuable Player trophy. It was his best season with a .354 BA in 153 games, 53 homers, 136 RBIs, 125 runs and 28 stolen bases. Bennington led the league in home runs and runs scored. He finished third in batting average. Overall in his 7 seasons Bennington has compiled a sparkling .324 BA with 269 homers, 698 RBIs, 723 runs and 74 stolen bases. His Haymakers came in third this year in the Tycobbian North.
Bennington outpolled two terrific hurlers to gain the league MVP honor. This year's TU Golden Arm Sid Humphrey (25-2/2.12 ERA/was the runner-up in the poll. The 34-year-old right-hander propelled his Hellcats to the TU North title and led the league in wins and ERA. La Claire's 20-year-old rookie pitcher Don Bartels (22-8/2.49 ERA/271 IP) came in third in the MVP balloting. He was the TU Rookie of the Year. The Lynx won the TU West with Bartels making a huge contribution.
