Dustin Williams, Gilberto Mejia, Steve Millar honored
Published on September 3, 2010 under Frontier League (FL)
Windy City ThunderBolts News Release
The 2010 Frontier League Eastern Division Champion Windy City ThunderBolts were well represented on the list of Frontier League award winners this year. Two current players were honored when the winners were announced on Thursday. Starting pitcher Dustin Williams was given the Jason Simontacchi Award for the league's top rookie and Gilberto Mejia was honored as the best second baseman in the league. Steve Millar of the Southtown Star was also voted the best Frontier League writer of 2010.
Williams, coming directly off a college season at Oklahoma City University, made his professional debut with the ThunderBolts in Southern Illinois on June 13. He has gone 7-3 with the Bolts and is second in the league with a 2.41 ERA. Williams has thrown two complete game shutouts this season, a three-hitter at Washington on July 21 and a one-hitter at home against the Freedom on August 22.
He becomes the second ThunderBolt to win the Simontacchi Award and the second in as many years after current Evansville outfielder Vinnie Scarduzio took the honor last year. Williams appeared out of the bullpen for the first time Thursday night and pitched a scoreless ninth inning in the division clinching win.
Mejia is the Frontier League's top second baseman for the second consecutive season.
"[He is] just a leader," Kashirsky said. "When things go rough, he's in the dugout helping guys out. You just can't say enough about him."
A four-year veteran of Windy City, Mejia leads the team with 34 stolen bases. He is hitting .287 with 15 doubles, a league-leading six triples and 34 RBI. He is the only player in ThunderBolts history to be named to the Post-Season All-Star Team in two separate seasons.
The ThunderBolts were further represented in the awards announcement by Steve Millar, winner of the Writer of the Year Award. Millar is the ThunderBolts' beat writer for the Southtown Star newspaper.
The 2010 Most Valuable Player is Gateway's Charlie Lisk. Lisk, the Frontier League's all-time leading home run hitter, began his career in the league with the ThunderBolts in 2006. He hit one homer with the Bolts and batted .316 in 26 games. This season, Lisk has hit .315 with 21 home runs and a league-high 87 RBI.
A complete list of award winners can be found at www.frontierleague.com.
The ThunderBolts close out their season with three games at Oakland University against the third-place Oakland County Cruisers. There will be a doubleheader starting at 11:00 a.m. CDT on Saturday and the regular season concludes Sunday with a 1:00 p.m. start time against the Cruisers.
The Bolts begin their playoff run on Thursday, September 9 at Standard Bank Stadium. For information regarding playoff tickets, visit www.wcthunderbolts.com.
Frontier League Stories from September 3, 2010
- Grizzlies Keep Playoff Hopes Alive With Win - Gateway Grizzlies
- Moran, bats propel Rascals to 8-3 win - Evansville Otters
- Beach Bums Close In On Playoff Spot - Traverse City Beach Bums
- Wild Things Give Up Nine Runs After Rain Delay - Washington Wild Things
- Crushers Open Final Series with Bang - Lake Erie Crushers
- Dustin Williams, Gilberto Mejia, Steve Millar honored - Windy City ThunderBolts
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