Baseball / MPL Season Awards announced

MPL Season Awards announced

Date:  Source: Mid-Plains Collegiate League

The Mid-Plains League is proud to announce the League Awards for the 2016 Season.

The awards are voted on by the member teams in the league. We congratulate all who were nominated and those who won this year's awards.

 

Mid-Plains League Player of the Year

 

Frankie Valle - Junction City Brigade (Dodge City Community College)

 

Valle is a first year member of the Junction City Brigade. His skill on the field and work ethic made him an obvious choice for this award. It also marks the third straight year a Junction City player has taken home the recognition.

 
"I have said from the first practice that Frankie has a chance to be Player of the Year," said Brigade Coach Seth Wheeler. "He is extremely talented, has every tool, and has a great attitude, so I knew he could be a great player for us."
 

"The thing that has impressed me most about Frankie is his consistency in his play and in his attitude. He has played almost every game, and the toll that takes physically and mentally is not small, but he has come with energy and enthusiasm every day. He is the most complete player we have had here," Wheeler added.

 

Valle joins Brett Nickel (2014) and Ethan Klosterboer (2015) as the recipients of the Player of the Year Award.

 


The Conner Taylor Mid-Plains League Pitcher of the Year

Chris McPherson - Topeka Golden Giants (Allen County Community College)
 

McPherson is a three year member of the Topeka organization, playing his first two years with the Senators and this season as a member of the Golden Giants.

 

"Chris McPherson is a pivotal puzzle piece that helps keep this team strong," said Golden Giants Manager Chris Graves. "The last 2 years Chris has put up video game like numbers. He has compiled a record of 10 - 1 with an ERA of under 2.30. He is a fierce competitor and accepts any challenge I throw at him. I am extremely glad he will be receiving this award."

 

"Formulating our roster for this summer of 2016, we asked Chris McPherson to anchor our pitching staff. He has been a mainstay in our organization for three summer seasons," Golden Giants Director of Baseball Operations Bob Conlon said. "The Giants are grateful that 'Mac's' success on the field has been recognized by the Mid Plains League."

 

McPherson adds his name to the list along with Dalton Shalberg (2014 Junction City) and Tyler Davis (2015 Rossville) to win the Pitcher of the Year Award.

 
This Award was recently named after Conner Taylor, former player for the Baldwin City Blues who lost his life this past February. The Mid-Plains League honors Conner's life by naming this award after him.
 
 

Mid-Plains League Manager of the Year

 
Tobi Cowdin - Rossville Rattlers
 

Coach Tobi Cowdin has won the League's Manager of the Year award for the second consecutive year. Tobi led the Rattlers to a League Championship in 2015 and has accumulated 37 wins in the past two seasons.

 

"Coach Cowdin has quickly earned a tremendous amount of respect from his peers in the Mid-Plains League," League Commissioner David Streeter said. "Tobi has a great ability to communicate with not only players, but opposing teams. He shows a great deal of respect to them and is one of the nicest people you will ever meet."

 

After staring out 5-12 this season, the Rattlers have battled their way back into contention and are a serious contender for the Cowdin Cup.

 

Rossville has won series against both division winners; Junction City and three wins against Baldwin City. Along with those two big second half series victories, they also won a series against the Topeka Golden Giants that propelled them into the 3rd seed in the West Bracket.

 

Tobi adds his name again along with John Tetuan (2014 Topeka) to the of Manager of the Year.