Four Braves named Appy League All-Stars
August 25, 2009 - Appalachian League (ApL)
Danville Otterbots News Release
DANVILLE, VA - As the top team in the Appalachian League and one of the top teams in all of Minor League Baseball, the Danville Braves are well-represented on the Appy League's All-Star roster.
The Braves swept the yearly awards as first baseman Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg was named the Player of the Year and left-handed starter Matt Crim was picked as the Pitcher of the Year. Cory Harrilchak was named as an outfielder on the squad and Paul Runge was chosen as the league's Manager of the Year, guiding the Braves to their 43-18 record and their fifth East Division title in six years.
Spanjer-Furstenburg is leads the league in hitting with a .357 average. He is tied for the league lead with 50 RBI and has seven home runs on the season. The Nova Southeastern University product spent much of the first half of the season above the .400 mark. He was also named as the league's first base representative.
Crim is posting nothing short of a historic season for the D-Braves. He is now the franchise single-season record holder with 10 wins and looks for his 11th on Wednesday night at Burlington. He would be the first Appy League pitcher since 1976 to accomplish that. He is 10-0 on the season with a 2.61 ERA. He was also named the league's Left-handed Pitcher of the Year.
The speedy Harrilchak has been outstanding this season, hitting .329 with nine doubles, four triples, two home runs and 39 RBI. The left-hander from Elon University has also stolen 18 bases in 20 chances. Harrilchak has played all three outfield spots this season for the D-Braves.
Runge has led the team to his fourth division title and the club's fifth in their last six years. He is the fourth-winningest manager in Appy League history with 241 victories in his career. The Braves will play the Elizabethton Twins in the Appy League Championship Series Sept. 2-4.
The Braves will make a one-game trek to visit the Royals Wednesday night at 7 p.m., sending left-hander Matt Crim (10-0, 2.61 ERA) to the hill against Leondy Perez (1-5, 4.35 ERA). Crim is trying to become the first Appy League pitcher with 11 wins since 1976. The Braves return to Danville to close the home regular season Thursday and Friday nights against Bluefield.
Fans can follow all Braves play-by-play action for home games on WMNA 106.3 FM or on the station's website www.espninva.com. For other information on the schedule, tickets, group nights, and/or partnership opportunities please contact the Danville Braves office at (434) 797-3792, info@dbraves.com, or log on to www.dbraves.com.
Appalachian League Stories from August 25, 2009
- Three Mariners Named To All-Star Team - Pulaski Mariners
- Four Braves named Appy League All-Stars - Danville Otterbots
- Braves Bats Struggle, Fall 3-1 to Cardinals - Danville Otterbots
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