Southern League Announces Year-End Award Winners
Published on September 7, 2005 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
MARIETTA, GA - The Southern League of Professional Baseball Clubs announced today the 2005 Southern League year-end award winners. The winners are as follows:
RADIO BROADCASTER OF THE YEAR
Tom Hart - Tennessee Smokies
The voice of the Tennessee Smokies, Tom Hart, was named Southern League Radio Broadcaster of the Year for the second time in his career. Hart previously won the award in his first season as the Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Smokies in 2002. Hart began his broadcasting career in 1998 with the Capital City Bombers of the South Atlantic League and spent three seasons with the Winston-Salem Warthogs of the Carolina League prior to joining the Smokies. In addition to handling the Smokies' play-by-play duties along with broadcast partner Chip Kain, the 1998 graduate of the University of Missouri is also the host of "Movin' On Up", which airs on BravesVision and CSS. Tom and his wife Kate reside in Knoxville, TN.
SPORTSWRITER OF THE YEAR
Jeff Elliott - Florida Times-Union
Jeff Elliott of the Florida Times-Union was named the 2005 Southern League Sportswriter of the Year for his coverage of the Jacksonville Suns and the Southern League. Elliott has been a sportswriter for the Florida Times-Union for the past five years, and has covered the Suns the past four seasons. He has been a correspondent for the Associated Press in Jacksonville for the past 15 years, assisting with coverage of the Jaguars and other major sports events in the area. Prior to joining the Florida Times-Union staff, Elliott served as the sports editor of Jacksonville Sports magazine. He also served as an administrative assistant to head football coach Mike White at the University of Illinois for two years and as the Public Relations Director of the Big Ten Conference for 18 years. Jeff, and his wife, Julie, reside in Jacksonville with their daughter, Kristin, and their dog, Tobester.
BEST VISITING CLUBHOUSE ATTENDANT
David Case - Mississippi Braves
David Case of the Mississippi Braves was named the Southern League's Best Visiting Clubhouse Attendant. Case spent the previous two seasons as the visiting clubhouse attendant with the Carolina Mudcats. He also has experience as the student equipment manager with the North Carolina State University Athletics Department, working particularly with the football program, and as the assistant equipment manager with the Carolina Cobras of the Arena Football League. Case graduated from NC State in 2004 with a degree in Mass Communications.
GROUNDSKEEPER OF THE YEAR
Ed Attalla - Jacksonville Suns
Ed Attalla was named the 2005 Southern League Groundskeeper of the Year, his third straight year winning the award. Attalla, in his third season with the Suns, was also named the 2003 Double-A Field Turf Manager of the Year. Before joining the Suns, he gained field management experience with the Baltimore Orioles, Bowie Baysox, and Delmarva Shorebirds, as well as the Washington Redskins and Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL. Ed resides in Jacksonville with his wife and two children.
TRAINER OF THE YEAR
Matt Lucero - Montgomery Biscuits
The Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) named Matt Lucero of the Montgomery Biscuits its 2005 Southern League Trainer of the Year as selected by his peers. Lucero has spent the past seven seasons in the Devil Rays' organization, including the past three with the Devil Rays' Double-A affiliate. He graduated from New Mexico State University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in Athletic Training. Lucero and his wife, Regina, have one daughter, Madyson.
Southern League Stories from September 7, 2005
- Hart tops league's list of broadcasters - Knoxville Smokies
- Southern League Announces Year-End Award Winners - SL1
- Russ joins Mudcats - Carolina Mudcats
- Nippert named Topps Player of the Month for August - Knoxville Smokies
- Rhodes and NewsTalk to give Jaxx fan $1,015 in gas - Jackson Generals
- Dickerson to manage the Diamond Jaxx in the post season - Jackson Generals
- Johnson heads to Marlins - Carolina Mudcats
- Nippert wins ERA Title - Knoxville Smokies
- Southern League announces Batting champion and ERA leader - SL1
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