Colts Captain wins MVP
Published on August 24, 2006 under United League Baseball (ULB)
San Angelo Colts News Release
It has been an amazing year for Colts Captain John Anderson, who on Thursday the United League named Most Valuable Player for the 2006 season. It started right from the beginning for Anderson, who had a hit on the very first day of the season and would get one each night for the first 31 games. The 31 game hitting streak also set an independent league record. Colts skipper Doc Edwards said, "Johnny is the straw that stirs the drink, he has matured and he has progressed to the point where he is an impact player on offense." In fact, Anderson never went hitless in back-to-back games until the last three days of the season and would get a hit in 55 of the 63 games he played in this season for San Angelo. In 2005, Anderson led the Central League in hits, at bats, and games hitting .304 with 2 homeruns and 37 RBI playing for the Colts. John followed it up this year by winning the battling title while hitting .390, with 2 homeruns, 46 RBI and 24 stolen bases for San Angelo. Anderson was instrumental in the Colts getting into the playoffs. "Everybody saw what happened to us when we lost him and that just confirmed the idea that a lot of people already had that he is the most valuable player in the league, and not only in the league but to the San Angelo Colts" said Edwards. Doc referring to the fact that the Colts record was just 10-17 without John in the lineup, while with Anderson San Angelo was 36-27.
The United League also handed out the other awards on Thursday as well. The pitcher of the year award had co-winners as Ryan Harris of the Edinburg Coyotes and Santo Hernandez of the Alexandria Aces both shared the honor. Edinburg's Ryan Harris, who ended his award winning season by beating the Colts in his last start finished strong, going 4-0 with a 2.25 ERA in August and was 10-6 overall with a 3.86 ERA. Ryan had 19 starts and in 130.2 innings pitched, he allowed 124 hits, and 48 walks, while striking out 108 batters. Harris led the league in strikeouts, tied for first in wins, and was second in ERA. Alexandria's Santo Hernandez got off to a good start going 4-0 with a 3.02 ERA in June, and finished with an overall record of 8-4 with a 3.97 ERA. Hernandez made 18 starts and in 118 innings pitched, he allowed 104 hits, 49 walks, and struck out 104. Santo was second in the league in strikeouts, tied for third in wins, and was fourth in the league in ERA.
The manager of the year award also had co-winners as both Edinburg Coyotes manager Vince Moore and Alexandria Aces Ricky VanAsselberg shared the honor. Moore who is in his second year as manager got his team off to an incredible 17-0 start this season, and led wire to wire finishing with the 2006 regular season United League Title. VanAsselberg a rookie manager not only brought his team to the playoffs, but also was the manager of the All-Star game and coached eight of his players to the game as well.
United League Baseball Stories from August 24, 2006
- Broncos pep rally Friday, game one on Saturday - Laredo Broncos
- VanAsselberg, Hernandez Win Awards - Alexandria Aces
- Colts Captain wins MVP - San Angelo Colts
- Anderson named 2006 ULB MVP - Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- Anderson is named MVP for United League Baseball - ULB
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