 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Jake Underwood set many records this season but none more noticeable than the 69 home runs and 245
rbi's he collected in tournament action alone. His .673 batting average, 41 doubles, 206 hits and 182 runs
in tourney's was second highest among regulars. The "go to" guy all season for the Street Kids/Suburban
team, Underwood led the team in game winning rbi's in tournaments, and batted over .700 in tournament
games that the SKS team won. In three tournaments this season, Underwood had an on base percentage
over .800. His intensity on the field shows his desire to win at all costs. A young player with incredible
power, he set the overall single season record for home runs with a whopping 123. At this years Flag Day
Championship, Underwood went 21-for-26 at the plate, including a team high six doubles, to help lead
SKS to a second place finish.
rbi's he collected in tournament action alone. His .673 batting average, 41 doubles, 206 hits and 182 runs
in tourney's was second highest among regulars. The "go to" guy all season for the Street Kids/Suburban
team, Underwood led the team in game winning rbi's in tournaments, and batted over .700 in tournament
games that the SKS team won. In three tournaments this season, Underwood had an on base percentage
over .800. His intensity on the field shows his desire to win at all costs. A young player with incredible
power, he set the overall single season record for home runs with a whopping 123. At this years Flag Day
Championship, Underwood went 21-for-26 at the plate, including a team high six doubles, to help lead
SKS to a second place finish.
Chris Firebaugh brings so much more to a team than the coolest last name in the sport. Firebaugh set the
team tournament record for triples in a season (16), not bad for a 6'4" 215 lb infielder. He also holds team
records for most overall triples in a season (22), most hits in a game (6) and most extra base hits in a game
(6). One of the best overall athletes on the team, Firebaugh has the ability to play many positions, and was
nominated for this years Gold Glove award for his outstanding defense. There are few people in the sport
that bring as much intensity and passion to the field as Chris. Firebaugh bounced back from a slow start this
season to finish with an on base percentage of .641 in tournaments and knew to bring the best when it
matter most as he recorded 55 of his 74 extra base hits in tournament action.
team tournament record for triples in a season (16), not bad for a 6'4" 215 lb infielder. He also holds team
records for most overall triples in a season (22), most hits in a game (6) and most extra base hits in a game
(6). One of the best overall athletes on the team, Firebaugh has the ability to play many positions, and was
nominated for this years Gold Glove award for his outstanding defense. There are few people in the sport
that bring as much intensity and passion to the field as Chris. Firebaugh bounced back from a slow start this
season to finish with an on base percentage of .641 in tournaments and knew to bring the best when it
matter most as he recorded 55 of his 74 extra base hits in tournament action.
Despite not playing in NSA tournaments with the SKS team, Joe Horvath compiled outstanding tournament
numbers in 2008. In 27 tournament games, Horvath batted an even .800 with 39 home runs, third best on
the team in less than half the games played. The 2008 overall batting champion, Horvath brought his best to
the tournaments he played in with SKS as the team won three tournaments that he played in. In 105 at bats
in tournaments, Horvath hit 39 home runs, an average of a homer every 2.7 at bats.
numbers in 2008. In 27 tournament games, Horvath batted an even .800 with 39 home runs, third best on
the team in less than half the games played. The 2008 overall batting champion, Horvath brought his best to
the tournaments he played in with SKS as the team won three tournaments that he played in. In 105 at bats
in tournaments, Horvath hit 39 home runs, an average of a homer every 2.7 at bats.
Tony Hardiman was another spark at the top of the lineup this season, finishing his tournament season with
an on base percentage of .648. His 130 rbi's were third best on the team in tourney action, and his 11
triples were second best. He also showed patience at the plate during tournaments, garnering 26 walks,
which helped lead to 165 runs scored in tournaments, good for third best on the team. While his
tournament OB% and batting average dropped from 2007, he still enjoyed one of his best all around
seasons, playing outstanding defense, which helped get him a nomination for the 2008 Gold Glove award.
At this seasons NSA Qualifier in Muncie, Indiana, Hardiman had one of his best tournaments, going
22-for-30 from the plate (.765 OB%) and played flawless defense, leading the Kids to a second place
finish.
an on base percentage of .648. His 130 rbi's were third best on the team in tourney action, and his 11
triples were second best. He also showed patience at the plate during tournaments, garnering 26 walks,
which helped lead to 165 runs scored in tournaments, good for third best on the team. While his
tournament OB% and batting average dropped from 2007, he still enjoyed one of his best all around
seasons, playing outstanding defense, which helped get him a nomination for the 2008 Gold Glove award.
At this seasons NSA Qualifier in Muncie, Indiana, Hardiman had one of his best tournaments, going
22-for-30 from the plate (.765 OB%) and played flawless defense, leading the Kids to a second place
finish.
Nick Bishop finished the tournament season with a .676 on base percentage, good for third best among
regulars in 2008. In tournament action, he drove in 81 runs this year and had 33 tournament doubles fourth
best on the team and had seven triples, good for third best. Bishop was steady with the glove this season as
well and was the only infielder this season to not commit a throwing error, showing his elite accuracy. From
2007 to 2008, Bishop increased his tournament numbers in several offensive categories, including OB%,
batting average, rbi's, doubles, walks, at bats, hits, and runs scored. At the NSA Nationals, Bishop had an
OB% of .727, including a team high seven doubles.
regulars in 2008. In tournament action, he drove in 81 runs this year and had 33 tournament doubles fourth
best on the team and had seven triples, good for third best. Bishop was steady with the glove this season as
well and was the only infielder this season to not commit a throwing error, showing his elite accuracy. From
2007 to 2008, Bishop increased his tournament numbers in several offensive categories, including OB%,
batting average, rbi's, doubles, walks, at bats, hits, and runs scored. At the NSA Nationals, Bishop had an
OB% of .727, including a team high seven doubles.
Gold Glove Award Already Chosen By
Players; MOP in Tournaments Begins Today
Players; MOP in Tournaments Begins Today
South Bend, IN 10/27/08
Players have already cast their vote for the 2008 Gold Glove winner, the player chosen by teammates on
the Street Kids/Suburban/Easton/PAS softball team as the elite player on defense. Up next is the Most
Outstanding Player in Tournaments, followed by MOP in League and finally the overall Most Valuable
Player, sponsored by Starcraft Bus.
Any player on the team was eligible for the Gold Glove award, but only six players were nominated for the
other three major awards, said TJ Jorgensen of SKS.
"Some people may feel that because we did not win a state or national title that we had a disappointing
season," Jorgensen stated. "But I believe we had a great year and that is due to some of the players that
had outstanding seasons, thus deserving a nomination."
The six nominees for Most Outstanding Players in Tournaments Award is listed below, along with a
caption that each of the 56 voters review, along with many other items to consider when casting their vote.
"Sometimes the best player around doesn't always mean he is the most valuable," Jorgensen added. "If that
were the case, Albert Pujols would win the award in MLB every year."
Voting began today and carries into the week, with the other two award nominations being named by
Wednesday. Last season, Shane Varga won the MOP in Tournaments award, while Joe Horvath was
named MOP in League and Lanny Fisher was named overall MVP.
The winners of each award will be announced at this years awards banquet, which is held on Saturday,
November 15th at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend. The event is open to the public.
Players have already cast their vote for the 2008 Gold Glove winner, the player chosen by teammates on
the Street Kids/Suburban/Easton/PAS softball team as the elite player on defense. Up next is the Most
Outstanding Player in Tournaments, followed by MOP in League and finally the overall Most Valuable
Player, sponsored by Starcraft Bus.
Any player on the team was eligible for the Gold Glove award, but only six players were nominated for the
other three major awards, said TJ Jorgensen of SKS.
"Some people may feel that because we did not win a state or national title that we had a disappointing
season," Jorgensen stated. "But I believe we had a great year and that is due to some of the players that
had outstanding seasons, thus deserving a nomination."
The six nominees for Most Outstanding Players in Tournaments Award is listed below, along with a
caption that each of the 56 voters review, along with many other items to consider when casting their vote.
"Sometimes the best player around doesn't always mean he is the most valuable," Jorgensen added. "If that
were the case, Albert Pujols would win the award in MLB every year."
Voting began today and carries into the week, with the other two award nominations being named by
Wednesday. Last season, Shane Varga won the MOP in Tournaments award, while Joe Horvath was
named MOP in League and Lanny Fisher was named overall MVP.
The winners of each award will be announced at this years awards banquet, which is held on Saturday,
November 15th at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend. The event is open to the public.
Lanny Fisher followed up his 2007 MVP season with an even
better 2008 season, perhaps his best performance in his 20 year
career. He set six tournament team records in 2008, including
highest batting average in tourneys (.732) and highest on base
percentage in tourneys (.756). He also had a record 229 hits in
tournament action alone. His 143 tournament rbi's were third best
on the team, all coming from the lead-off position in the lineup.
Fisher set a tournament single season record also with 62 doubles.
His performance in Owensboro, Kentucky at Nationals (.759 on
base percentage) combined with his performance at the World
Championships in St. Louis (.833 OB%), clearly shows that Fisher
is one of the best "big moment" players the area has ever seen.
better 2008 season, perhaps his best performance in his 20 year
career. He set six tournament team records in 2008, including
highest batting average in tourneys (.732) and highest on base
percentage in tourneys (.756). He also had a record 229 hits in
tournament action alone. His 143 tournament rbi's were third best
on the team, all coming from the lead-off position in the lineup.
Fisher set a tournament single season record also with 62 doubles.
His performance in Owensboro, Kentucky at Nationals (.759 on
base percentage) combined with his performance at the World
Championships in St. Louis (.833 OB%), clearly shows that Fisher
is one of the best "big moment" players the area has ever seen.