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State College Spikes

Spikes Name 2014 Award Winners at Regular Season Home Finale

August 30, 2014 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
State College Spikes News Release


(STATE COLLEGE, PA) - - The State College Spikes announced their 2014 year-end award winners in a ceremony prior to Saturday's regular season home finale against the Batavia Muckdogs at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Infielder Danny Diekroeger won the Spikes Most Valuable Player Award, while right-hander Will Anderson earned the Spikes Pitcher of the Year Award. Outfielder Nick Thompson was named the Spikes Leadership and Community Service Award winner.

Diekroeger has compiled a .279 batting average, five home runs and 33 runs batted in over 59 games through August 29. The St. Louis Cardinals' 2014 tenth-round draft choice also leads the Spikes with four triples, and set a club record with a 21-game hitting streak from August 2-27, and has manned both third base and second base this season. Diekroeger has also scored 37 runs and contributed 10 doubles on the year.

The Stanford product joins Justin Byler (2007), Chase d'Arnaud (2008) Brock Holt (2009), Adalberto Santos (2010), Wes Freeman (2011), D.J. Crumlich (2012) and David Washington (2013) on the list of Spikes MVP award winners.

Rowan Wick, who set the Spikes' all-time single-season home run record with 14 home runs over 35 games during the first half of the season, was not eligible for the award as he did not play enough games.

Anderson has gone 6-2 with a 2.48 earned run average for the Spikes in 12 starts, and ranks fourth in the New York-Penn League in ERA through August 29. The right-hander is also tied for fifth in the NYPL in strikeouts with 59 as of the home finale, and delivered seven quality starts of six innings or more with three earned runs or less. Anderson, the Cardinals' 2013 26th-round draft choice out of Cal State-Monterey Bay, was selected for the New York-Penn League All-Star Game, and recorded a perfect second inning in the annual showcase in Brooklyn on August 19.

The Pleasanton, CA native joins Tony Watson (2007), Alan Knotts (2008), Kyle McPherson (2009), as well as Kevin Decker (2010), Nick Kingham (2011), Clay Holmes (2012) and Nick Petree (2013) as recipients of the Spikes' Pitcher of the Year award.

Thompson was drafted by the Cardinals in the eighth round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of William & Mary, and has been a steady bat for the Spikes in the outfield. The Chesapeake, VA native is hitting .288 with five home runs and a team-leading 42 runs batted in through August 29. Off the field, Thompson has also been a star, helping to create a positive impact in the community through numerous appearances and clinics during the summer.

Previous winners of the award include David Rubinstein (2009), Cole White (2010), Chase Lyles (2010), Matt Skirving (2011), Jacob Stallings (2012) and Mitch Harris (2013).

Information on all Spikes single-game, season and group ticket packages is available at State College Spikes.com. Fans can now purchase Four-Game Playoff Packs in anticipation of potential Spikes' home games during the 2014 NYPL playoffs. Four-Game Playoff Packs start as low as just $16 per seat and include a $2 per game savings off the single-game price. Plus, each seat purchased as part of a Four-Game Playoff Pack will come with a free, limited edition 2014 Spikes playoff t-shirt while supplies last. Four-Game Playoff Packs can also be purchased at the Spikes Box Office by calling (814) 272-1711 or by visiting in person.

Fans can join the Spikes' "Hunt for It All, " presented by the Central Pennsylvania Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lion Country Kia and HRI, Inc., and find additional post-season ticket information, by heading to the Playoff Central page on State College Spikes.com.

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