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MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps Win Promotional Trophy, Team of the Year

October 11, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The awards just keep rolling in for the 2007 Midwest League Champion West Michigan Whitecaps. Earlier this week, the 'Caps won the Midwest League's Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy and the franchise was also named the Class A Team of the Year by MiLB.com. The Team of the Year award was the second back-to-back title for the 'Caps who also won the award from MiLB in 2006.

"We're thrilled and excited with both of these awards," said Whitecaps Vice President Jim Jarecki. "2007 was a special year for us and it's great to see the hard work both on and off the field paying off."

The Larry MacPhail Promotional Trophy is presented to the Midwest League club who has done the best job in the area of promotions during the past season. The Whitecaps previously won the award in 2002. "Our promotions department, lead by Mickey Graham and Brian Oropallo, really excelled this year and the Midwest League recognized that," said Jarecki. "Coming to a Whitecaps game is an experience and our staff made sure that every night was special. New promotions like Big Top Tuesdays and Irish Night joined favorites including Field of Dreams and Super Hero Night to create a great, fun filled atmosphere."

MiLB's Team of the Year award comes on the heels of other big awards for the 'Caps. Skipper Tom Brookens was named the Midwest League Manager of the Year and center fielder Gorkys Hernandez was voted the best Midwest League prospect. Pitcher Duane Below took home the Detroit Tigers' minor league pitcher of the year award and Brookens racked up a second nod for his managerial prowess when he was named the Best Midwest League Manager by Baseball America.

The Whitecaps were named the Team of the Year after posting one of the best records in minor league baseball. West Michigan went 38-32 in the first half of the season, good enough for second place in the Eastern Division and a Wild-Card spot in the playoffs. The team went on to win the division in the second half with a 45-25 record. The 'Caps 83-57 overall record was four games better than any other team in the league.

Brookens and his crew didn't lose a playoff game until Game 3 of the Championship Series against Beloit, winning six straight contests in sweeping Lansing in the first round and South Bend in the second before taking a 2-0 lead in the final. There was no collapse when Beloit battled back to tie the series and force a Game 5: the Whitecaps won, 11-5, for their third crown in four years and fifth in 14 years. The 'Caps also captured the title in 1996, 1998, 2004 and 2006.

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