Headlines
Subscribe to our Newsletter2012 WING OF THE YEAR
DARIN REINTJES- DARIN HAD A VERY GOOD FIRST CAMPAIGN WITH THE BIRDS. HIS BULLDOG MENTALITY AND DETERMINATION HELPED HIM LEAD THE TEAM IN INNINGS PITCHED (58 2/3), ERA (2.91), K'S (50) WHIP (1.28) AND SAVES WITH (2). EVEN WITH MISSING A PORTION OF THE SEASON, DARIN MANAGED THE TAKE OVER AS THE REDBIRDS ACE. DARIN WAS ALSO NAMED THE STARTING PITCHER FOR THE 2012 ALL-STAR GAME AT RALEY FIELD AND WENT ON TO PITCH 2 SCORELESS INNINGS.
2012 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
GREGG ARIOTO- AFTER TAKING HOME CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN 2011, GREGG WINS THE AWARD OUTRIGHT THIS YEAR. HIS PRESENCE IN THE LINE-UP HAS OPPOSING TEAMS AND OWN PLAYERS FEARING HIS AT BATS. HE LED THE BIRDS IN HR'S (5), TOTAL BASES (45), ON BASE % (.598), SLUGGING % (.726) AND OPS (1.324). HE ALSO WAS 2ND IN RBI'S WITH (24) AND HITS WITH (26). GREGG ALSO BECAME THE FULL TIME SHORT STOP FOR THE BIRDS AND DIDN'T DISSAPOINT, MAKING SPECTACULAR PLAYS ON A WEEKLY BASIS. MR. ARIOTO WAS ALSO SELECTED TO HIS 2ND CONSECUTIVE ALL-STAR GAME TO REPRESENT THE REDBIRDS.
2012 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
BRET BARRIE- IN HIS FIRST SEASON WITH THE BIRDS, BRET SOLIDIFIED HIMSELF AS THE STARTING CATCHER. HIS DEFENSIVE SKILLS BEHIND THIS DISH, MIXED IN WITH EXPERIENCE CALLING A GREAT GAME, SIGNIFICANTLY HELPED THE PITCHING STAFF. HIS RESILANCY AND DETERMINATION HAD HIM CATCH ALMOST EVERY INNING HE WAS THERE. EVEN WITH 100 PLUS TEMPERATURES, BRET DIDNT HESITATE TO CATCH BOTH GAMES OF DOUBLE HEADERS. ALTHOUGH DEFENSIVE STATS AREN'T KEPT, HE HAD ONE OF THE BETTER CATCHING SEASONS IN FRANCHISE HISTORY.
2012 RYNO AWARD WINNER
DALLAS STONE- THERE WAS NO DEBATE ON WHO THE CLEAR CUT WINNER OF THIS AWARD WOULD GO TO. DALLAS EMBODIES WHAT THIS AWARD WAS DESIGNED FOR. HIS IMPACT IN THE DUG-OUT AND ON THE FIELD TO KEEP ALL THE GUYS LOOSE HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON THE BIRDS. HIS HUSTLE AND NEVER GIVE UP ATTITUDE DEFINITELY RUBBED OFF ON THE TEAM. DALLAS LEAD THE TEAM IN RUNS (27) AND STOLEN BASES WITH (9). HIS PLATE DISCIPLINE AND ABILITY TO WORK THE PITCHER LEAD TO 22 WALKS AND A GREAT ON BASE % OF (.573). HE WAS AN INSPIRATION TO A LOT OF GUYS ON THE TEAM AND HE ALWAYS KEPT US IN THE GAME, ON AND OFF THE FIELD.
2011 WING OF THE YEAR
NATE PUDEWELL- NATE WINS THE WING OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR. "NASTY NATE" LED THE TEAM IN WINS (5), ERA (4.25), STRIKE OUTS (77), INNINGS PITCHED (72) AND WHIP (1.42), AND COMPLETE GAME (4). HE ALSO STARTED THE 28 AAA NABA ALL-STAR GAME FOR THE 2ND STRAIGHT YEAR.
2011 OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
JEREMY SUTTER- JEREMY IS CO-OFFENSIVE MVP FOR THE 2ND TIME IN A REDBIRD JERSEY. HE WAS ALSO CO-MVP IN 2010. HE ALSO WON OFFENSIVE MVP IN 2007.
JEREMY LED THE BIRDS IN OBP (.591), SLG (.912), AND OPS (1.503) AND WAS 2ND IN AVE (.474), HR'S (5), RBI'S (24), AND SB (5). "RON" OFFENSIVE NUMBERS HELPED HIM MAKE THE ALL-STAR TEAM ONCE AGAIN AND HE HAS SOLIDIFIED HIMSELF IN THE REDBIRDS RECORD BOOKS.
GREGG ARIOTO- GREGG BURST ONTO THE SCENE IN HIS FIRST SEASON WITH THE BIRDS. HE WAS PICKED UP AFTER PLAYING ON THE FALL BALL TEAM. GREGG MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT AND BROKE INTO THE STARTING LINE-UP AND NEVER LOOKED BACK. "MUSCLE BEACH" A NICKNAMED DONNED BY HIS TEAMMATES, LED THE BIRDS IN HITS (29), RUNS (23), DOUBLES (8), SB'S (8), AND PLATE APPEARANCES. HE ALSO TIED FOR THE LEAD IN GAMES PLAYED (19), AND AT BATS (69). BASED ON HIS OFFENSIVE PROWLESS, HE WAS SELECTED TO REPRESENT THE REDBIRDS IN THE ALL-STAR GAME. BASED ON THE FABULOUS FIRST SEASON WITH THE BIRDS, GREGG HAS ALSO BEEN CHOOSEN AS THE 2011 REDBIRD ROOKIE OF THE YEAR.
2011 RYNO AWARD
ERIC BROOKS- "BROOKSY" AS KNOWN BY HIS TEAMATES, IN HIS FIRST SEASON WITH THE REDBIRDS, WINS THE RYNO AWARD. ERIC'S INTENSITY ON THE FIELD AND DETERMINATION TO WIN HELPED FEUL THE BIRDS. EVEN WITH AN INJURED ELBOW, BROOKS STILL MANAGED TO PITCH AND KEEP THE REDBIRDS POTENT OFFENSE WITHIN STRIKING DISTANCE. ERIC WAS ALSO VERY DEDICATED TO MAKE IT TO EVERY PRACTICE AND WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING KIDS IN THE BASEBALL CLINIC FUNDRAISER.
2010 WING OF THE YEAR
NATE PUDEWELL-"NASTY NATE" COMPLETED ONE OF IF NOT THE MOST DOMINATING SEASONS IN REDBIRDS HISTORY. HE PUT UP NUMBERS THAT WOULD HAVE WON THE LEAGUE TRIPLE CROWNS FOR PITCHERS. 13 WINS, AND 1.33 ERA ARE FRANCHISE RECORDS, AND 96 STRIKEOUTS IN 74 INNINGS IS A PERSONAL BEST. HE ALSO HAD A MICROSCOPIC WHIP OF 0.82 AND 3 COMPLETE GAMES. THE HIGHLIGHT OF NATES YEAR, CAME AGAINST THE SMOKIES, WHERE HE THREW A NO-HITTER. NATE ALSO SET THE TONE FOR THE BIRDS IN THE PLAY-OFFS, LEADING THEM TO A DOMINATING GAME 1 VICTORY IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES, HELPING THE BIRDS WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP. NATE WAS ALSO SELECTED TO HIS 2ND ALL-STAR TEAM AND WAS SELECTED MVP, THE 2ND REDBIRD TO ACHIEVE THAT HONOR.
2010 OFFENSIVE MVPS
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN IN THE 4 YEARS OF THE BIRD AWARDS, THE OFFENSIVE MVP, GOES TO 3 REDBIRDS WHO HAD OUTSTANDING YEARS.
BRUCE NEWMAN- "BRUUUUCE" HAD AN AMAZING FIRST YEAR WITH THE BIRDS. AFTER YEARS OF BEING A BIRD KILLER, BRUCE NOT ONLY LED THE REDBIRDS IN SEVERAL OFFENSIVE CATEGORIES. HE HELPED SOLIDIFY THE LINE-UP AND GAVE OPPOSING PITCHERS NIGHTMARES. NEWMAN SET FRANCHISE RECORDS FOR BB'S(24), OBP(.649) SLG(1.043) AND OPS(1.693). HE ALSO LED THE BIRDS IN AVE(.507), HR(10) AND RUNS(43).
MIREK MAY- "MIDNITE" MIREK HAD HIS BEST SEASON OFFENSIVELY SINCE DONNING A REDBIRDS JERSEY. HE LED THE BIRDS IN AB'S(86), HITS(41) AND TIED FOR THE LEAD IN RBI'S(46). MAY'S BEST PERFORMANCE CAME IN THE CLUTCH. IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES, HE WENT 6X9 WITH A 2B, 3 HR'S, 6 RUNS SCORED AND 11 RBI'S. HIS BAT CARRIED US IN THE 2ND GAME WHICH LED TO THE SWEEP OF THE RED SOX. MIREK WAS SELECTED TO THE ALL-STAR TEAM FOR THE 3RD CONSECUTIVE YEAR AS WELL.
JEREMY SUTTER- "J-SUTT" HAD ANOTHER GREAT OFFENSIVE YEAR FOR THE BIRDS. HE BATTED(.406), TIED FOR THE LEAD IN RBI'S(46) AND SB'S(12)AND HBP'S(9).
HIS DISCIPLINE AND THE PLATE, HUSTLE ON THE PADS ALONG WITH HIS LEADERSHIP ON THE FEILD HELPED JEREMY EARN THIS AWARD, HIS 2ND, HE ALSO WAS THE FIRST TO WIN THIS AWARD IN 2007. SUTTER ALSO EARNED HIS 4TH STRAIGHT ALL-STAR GAME APPEARANCE.
2010 DEFENSIVE MVP
PHIL SCHMICH- "PHIL90X" HAD A STELLAR YEAR WITH THE LEATHER THIS YEAR. PLAYING MOSTLY IN THE INFIELD, BUT WAS GOLD EVERYWHERE HE PLAYED. PREVIOUSLY, PRIMARILY A SECOND BASEMAN, PHIL STARTED TO PLAY MORE THIRD AND BE A SOLID UTILITY GUY. IN ONE GAME, HE MANAGED TO PLAY ALL NINE POSITIONS IN THE FIELD IN A 7 INNING STRETCH. HIS OFF FIELD CONDITIONING WAS DEFINITELY A FACTOR IN PUTTING TOGETHER HIS GREAT DEFENSIVE PLAY.
2010 RYNO AWARD
BEN YOUNG- "BY" DISPLAYED HIS ABILITIES ON AND OFF THE FIELD FOR WHAT REDBIRDS BASEBALL IS ALL ABOUT. BEN ONCE AGAIN LED THE TEAM IN GAMES PLAYED, THIRD TIME IN HIS FOUR YEARS, AND AT BATS, SECOND TIME IN FOURS YEARS. HIS 11 DOUBLES, TIED HIS OWN FRANCHISE SINGLE SEASON RECORD. HIS 12 STEALS TIED FOR THE TEAM LEAD AND HE IS SECOND ALL TIME IN FRANCHISE HISTORY. WITH HIS HUSTLE AND HIS GREAT BASEBALL SENSE, HE PUT TOGETHER ANOTHER VERY GOOD SEASON WEARING A BIRDS JERSEY. OFF THE FIELD "BY" WAS A BIG PART OF OUR FUNDRAISING FOR 2010. HOSTING OUR INAUGURAL POKER TOURNAMENT, AND GETTING A LOT OF PRIZES TOWARDS THAT. HE ALSO WAS A BIG HELP FOR LITTLE LEAGUERS AS A COACH AT OUR ANNUAL, REDBIRDS BASEBALL CLINIC. BEN IS A GREAT TEAM PLAYER, AND IS THE REDBIRDS HAD TO CHOOSE A CAPTIAN TO REPRESENT THEM ON THE FIELD IT WOULD BE HIM.
2009 OFFENSIVE MVP
DAVIN GARDNER- LED THE REDBIRDS OFFENSE IN MOST CATERGORIES INCLUDING
AVE(.538), HITS(35), DOUBLES(10), TRIPLES(2), RBI'S(26), TOTAL BASES(58), O.B.P(.563), SLUGGING(.892) AND OPS(1.456). DAVIN EASILY HAD HIS BEST YEAR IN A REDBIRD JERSEY. A LONG TIME NABA PLAYER, DAVIN'S INCREDIBLE OFFENSIVE SEASON ALSO EARNED HIM HIS FIRST ALL-STAR SELECTION AS A BIRD.
2009 WING OF THE YEAR AND ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
NATE PUDEWELL-"NASTY NATE" HAD A DOMINATING FIRST YEAR ON THE HILL FOR THE BIRDS. NATE ESTABLISHED HIMSELF NOT ONLY AS THE NEW ACE OF OUR STAFF BUT EARNED A REPUTATION AS ONE, IF NOT THE BEST PITCHERS IN OUR DIVISION. HE FINISHED THE SEASON WITH A 6-1 RECORD WITH A 3.42 ERA, 1.40 WHIP AND AN ASTONISHING 86 STRIKEOUTS IN 73 INNINGS. WITH INJURIES TO OUR PITCHING STAFF IN 2009, NATE STEPPED IN AND STABLIZED OUR STAFF. HE GOT THE HONOR OF STARTING THE ALL-STAR GAME ON THE HILL, REPRESENTING THE BIRDS.
2009 DEFENSIVE MVP
ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ-"A-ROD", WAS KNOWN FOR TWO THINGS LAST SEASON, RIDING THE ATV TO DRAG THE FIELD AND PLAYING EXCELLENT DEFENSE ON THAT SAME FIELD. SINCE WE DON'T KEEP DEFENSIVE STATS, ITS HARD TO TELL HOW GOOD OF SEASON HE HAD. FREDO, WHO'S SEASON WAS IN JEOPARDY BEFORE THE START OF IT WITH A BACK INJURY, PLAYED AS SMOOTH A SECOND BASE, AS ANYONE WHO HAS EVER DONNED A BIRD'S JERSEY.
2009 RYNO AWARD
THIS INNAUGURAL AWARD GOES TO THE REDBIRD, WHOM THE AWARD WAS NAMED AFTER, RYAN "RYNO" HARRIS. THIS AWARD WILL GO TO THE REDBIRD WHO IS THE MOST INSPIRATIONAL AND MOST EXEMPLIFIES HOW THE REDBIRDS PLAY BASEBALL. HARRIS, A LONG TIME NABA PLAYER AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE REDBIRDS, DECIDED TO TURN IN HIS WINGS AT THE END OF THE SEASON LAST YEAR. HE FINISHED WITH A SOLID SEASON AT THE PLATE AND IN THE FIELD. HE ALSO MANAGED THE TOURNAMENT TEAM THAT WENT DOWN TO ARIZONA. SACRIFICING ALOT OF TIME AND FUNDS TO MAKE SURE WE HAD THE BEST CHANCE TO SUCCEED. HIS BASEBALL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE WILL BE MISSED, NOT ONLY ON THE FIELD, BUT IN THE DUGOUT AS WELL.
2008 OFFENSIVE MVP
MIKE KERR- "THE KID" LED THE THE REDBIRDS OFFENSE IN MOST CATEGORIES INCLUDING AVE(.595), HITS(47), 2B'S(11), TOTAL BASES(75), O.B.P(.628), SLUGGING(.949), AND OPS(1.577) HE ALSO TIED FOR THE TEAM LEAD IN 3B'S(1), HR'S(5) AND SB'S(11). KERR ALSO PLAYED A GREAT CF FOR THE BIRDS, MAKING SPECTACULAR CATCHES AND SHOWING OFF HIS ARM WITH SEVERAL ASSISTS FROM THE OUTFIELD.
2008 WING OF THE YEAR
BEN BARKER- "BARK" HAD A GREAT 1ST SEASON ON THE HILL FOR THE BIRDS.
GOING 6-0, INCLUDING 2 BIG WINS IN THE PLAY-OFFS. BEN LED THE STAFF IN
ERA(4.07) AND WINS(6). HE WAS 2ND IN K'S(40) AND WHIP(1.64). HIS PERFORMANCE IN THE CLUTCH HELPED THE REDBIRDS WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
2008 DEFENSIVE MVP
JEREMY SUTTER- "RON" HAD HIS BEST DEFENSIVE YEAR IN A REDBIRDS JERSEY. ANCHORING THE DEFENSE AT SS, HE MADE DIFFICULT PLAYS SEEM ROUTINE. HELPING THE TEAM TURN THE MOST DP'S IN THEIR 8 YR HISTORY AND STABILIZING THEIR BEST INFIELD IN YEARS.
2008 COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR
ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ- "A-ROD" CAME BACK TO THE REDBIRDS AFTER NOT PLAYING BALL THE LAST 3 YEARS. KNOWN MAINLY FOR HIS DEFENSE, ALFREDO SHINED AT
THE PLATE AND AFTER A FEW WEEKS EMERGED IN THE LEAD OFF SPOT. HE LED THE TEAM IN AB'S(90) AND WAS IN THE TOP 3 IN AVE(.467), HITS(42), RUNS(32), AND GAMES PLAYED(22). HE WAS A BIG PIECE OF THE PUZZLE THAT HELPED PROPEL THE BIRDS TO BECOME AN ELITE TEAM.
2007 REDBIRD AWARD WINNERS
2007 OFFENSIVE MVP- JEREMY SUTTER
Jeremy was the team leader in Hits(43), Runs(44),
HR's(11), RBI'S(42), SB'S(28), and Total Bases(82). We weren't sure
where to play him defensively to start the year, we just knew that his
bat(black magic) was needed if we were going to be a contender. "Ron" had more energy than the energizer bunny this season.
2007 WING OF THE YEAR- KYLE MANNA
"Ely" had a 9-0 record this season including a dominating
3-0 play-off record to help the Birds claim its first championship in 5 years. Also threw 5 complete games and was dubbed the nickname "Buzzsaw" by his oppenents. When we build this team, we needed an Ace and Kyle was the guy we knew would make or break our season.
2007 DEFENSIVE MVP- MARK PAFFORD
"Paff" anchored our OF and had a remarkable year patrolling the Super Friendly Confines of the Homer Dome. From shoe string catches to running down balls in the gap, including a game changing catch in the Semi-Finals in the Play-offs vs. the Storm. Mark also had a solid offense year, occupying the lead off spot and having a
30(hits)30(runs)20(rbis)20(bb)20(sb)season.
2007 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR- AARON KEBLIS
Aaron was a mid season acquisition that proved to be a key one for the Birds. He lead the team in OBP (.643) and Slugging(1.026) he also batted .474 and scored 29 runs in 12 games. He also had a solid defensive season, playing 3B mostly but also played some OF.
2007 IRON BIRD- BEN YOUNG
"B.Y" was the only bird to play in all 25 games this year. Doing so by playing the most demanding position on the field, Catcher. Ben not only called a good game behind the dish, he haulted the running game of most teams with his strong arm and reputation. He only sat out a few innings all year, even "onions" couldn't keep him out of the line-up in the play-offs. Shaking off a slow offensive start, he was a key spark plug the 2nd half of the season and the play-offs, leading the team in 2B's(11) and 3B's(2).
2007 MOST IMPROVED- STEVE STAPP
The "Stapper" is one of 4 original Redbirds to play this season. Having had sub-par years in his previous season with the Birds, he had a impressive offensive season batting .393 with a .500 OBP. He also got a HBP 1 out of ever 6 abs. Steve was also the architech that helped build this years championship Redbird squad and was instrumental in helping us be one of the sharpest looking teams in the NABA.
2007 BATTING CHAMPION- BRANDON KEMLER
"B.K." was a key pick up for the Birds in the off-season along with the other Mudcats. He lead the team with a .526 batting average and solidified the clean up spot in our line-up. "Fat Lightning" it has been said, "can roll out of bed and still hit .500".