On Dec. 19, NYCMBL players managers and fans flocked to the Village Pour House in Manhattan for the league’s annual Holiday Bash. A celebration of the 2012 season, the night culminated in an awards ceremony that honored the top performers of the year.

            Metro League veteran Bryan Howard of the Storm walked away with the MVP for the Double-A Brooklyn/Queens division. Howard, who has been a perennial all-star during his six-year career in the NYCMBL, batted .438, drove in 29 runs and belted 3 homers this summer. In doing so, he beat out a number of worthy candidates for MVP consideration, including teammate John Lanahan with whom Howard paired to form the best 1-2 punch in the Double-A.

“I thought, looking at my numbers, that I had a shot,” said Howard.  “When our catcher Sammy [Akleh] ran up and took the mic from Anthony [Pardo], I was expecting it to be Lanahan. I almost dropped my beer.”

Howard was joined on the Brooklyn/Queens side by RoughRiders pitcher Juan Ramon who was named the division’s Cy Young winner. Ramon, a converted starter, turned in a tremendous season coming out of the bullpen in 2012, posting a 4-0 record with 7 saves and a miniscule .42 ERA. 

In the Bronx/Manhattan division, Tigers’ ace Joe Carey won both the Cy Young and MVP awards, a testament to the impact he had on his team’s fortunes this year. In 11 starts, Carey went 10-1 with a 1.02 ERA and notched 108 strikeouts in 80.1 innings of work. Offensively, Carey hit .393 to lead his team to a 16-10-1 record.

In the Single-A, Elmjack Dodgers southpaw Danny O’Brien (5-1, 1.42) took home Cy Young honors while Chris Jackson (.479, 32 RBI) of the Prospects was named the MVP. 

With 2012 officially in the books, players and coaches will look ahead to the 2013 season and the upcoming Jan. 16 meeting that set the gears in motion for the upcoming year. For Howard and the rest of the 2012 award winners, even the accolades of a great season mean little compared to what most see as the top honor in the NYCMBL – winning it all.

 “I’m going to look to do it again next year,” said Howard. “And I want to help my team win the championship.”