Couple of Wildcats earn top NSSBL honours

BY FRED SGAMBATI

fsgambati@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

The Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League announced its top award-winners last week and a couple of Kentville Wildcats are in the mix.

Ian Lockhart earned the Gary MacDonald Memorial/Rawlings Gold Glove-Gold Bat Award for most player-of-the-game awards during the regular season. Lockhart was ninth in batting average (.343), tied for seventh in hits (35) and tied for seventh in runs scored (22).

Wildcats’ catcher Kevin Benjamin was named a league all-star after finishing fourth in batting average (.402) and third in hits (39).

League MVP for 2008 was Dartmouth Moosehead Dry outfielder Chris Head. He led the league in hits (50), runs scored (42) and stolen bases (33). He also finished in the top-three in batting (.410, third), doubles (nine, tied for third), and triples (two, tied for second), and was named to the league's all-star team. It is Head's first MVP award.

Following are the NSSBL award winners. The league all-stars, MVP and coach of the year are chosen via balloting from member teams. Voting is compiled by league statistician Burton Russell.

ALL-STARS:

Catcher: Kevin Benjamin, Kentville Wildcats

First base -- Greg West, Dartmouth Moosehead Dry: 15th in batting average (.310), sixth in RBI - 23.

Second base -- Jason Snow, Sydney Sooners: eighth in batting average (.345).

Shortstop -- Ryan Veinot, Halifax Pelham Canadians: 10th in batting average (.340), fourth in runs scored (27), second in stolen bases (16), leader in triples (3).

Third base -- Joel Irvine, Dartmouth Moosehead Dry: seventh in batting average (.347), tied for seventh in hits (35), tied for second in runs scored (28), tied for fourth in RBI (26), second in doubles (10), third in stolen bases (10).

Designated hitter -- Joe MacPherson, Truro Bearcats: sixth in batting average (.355), fourth in hits (38), leader in home runs (9) and RBI (31).

Outfielder -- Chris Head, Dartmouth Moosehead Dry (see above).

Outfielder -- Geoff MacLellan, Sydney Sooners: batting champion (.427), second in hits (44), leader in doubles (12), tied for second in triples (2), fourth in stolen bases (9).

Outfielder -- Billy MacKenzie, Truro Bearcats: second in batting average (.420), fifth in hits (370, tied for second in runs scored (28), third in RBI (27), tied for third in doubles (90, tied for second in triples (2), tied for second in home runs (7).

Left-handed pitcher -- Barrett Bellefontaine, Halifax Pelham Canadians: 2-1 record, tied for second in strikeouts (48), fourth in earned-run average (2.61), tied for sixth in innings pitched (55.1), tied for lead in saves (2).

Right-handed pitcher -- Steve Nelson, Dartmouth Moosehead Dry: 7-3 record, league leader in strikeouts (74) and innings pitched (80.1), tied for league lead in wins (7) and saves (2), second in earned-run average (2.13), third in winning percentage (.700).

Coach Of The Year: Jim Pelham, Halifax Pelham Canadians (second place, 18-11 record).



Susan McEachern Memorial Award (league volunteer of the year): Ken Zwicker, Dartmouth Moosehead Dry.