John Daunt & Pat Drury
Team MVPs
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Erik Lundquist
Best Glove Winner
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John Thompson
Best Glove Winner
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Tom Meldrum
Top Rookie Again!
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Spring Training
Is Not Far Away!
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The 1999 fall season has come to an end, and
the U.S. Exporters can look back on a very
successful year. The first victory over the
Hosers on November 9 guaranteed another second
place finish for the U.S. Exporters after a
long, weather delayed fall season.
The Fall 1999 team Most Valuable Players
were John "J.D." Daunt and Pat Drury.
John Daunt has played on this team since 1994,
but this was the year that he would achieve
many of his personal bests. He led the team
in home runs and slugging percentage, and he
also set personal bests in several categories,
including RBI. His dramatic last inning grand
slam home run against Golfzilla kept the team
in the pennant race, and he also tied the team
record for most RBI in a game with 9. This is
an effort that clearly merits the team MVP.
What a year you had, J.D!
Pat Drury broke two longstanding team pitching
records that no one expected to see challenged.
First, in an awesome display of control,
Pat broke the team record of 8 complete
games without a walk set by Jody Bankins in the
Spring 1994 season. The new team record is now 9
complete games without a walk. Further, Pat broke
the record for most victories in a season with 12
wins, passing a record set by Dan Hess in 1997.
His poise and leadership on the mound, in the dugout,
and at the plate is appreciated by his teammates,
and cannot be fully rewarded by this MVP award.
But we will try. Splendid job, Pat!
After a long, hard season John Thompson and Erik
Lundquist earned the fall 1999 Best Glove Awards for
the terrific performances each had at their
respective positions.
Erik was called upon to anchor left field,
left center, right field, second base, and
third base at different times all season
long, and he did it with a veteran's eye.
Erik is a sturdy and knowledgable defender
who knows where to position himself and how
to hit the cutoff. He had a fine season in
the field, and was especially effective in
Shirley Park games when we have played without
outfield fences. Erik's hustle to backup plays
for teammates has saved scores of runs, and
has often kept this team in ball games that
we might otherwise be losing.
John Thompson follows up his spring 1999
MVP Award with his third Best Glove honor.
In the spring, the team's double play numbers
dropped badly, but this fall (with the able
assistance of Tom Lindamood and Jeff Donald)
we were once again turning the slick double
play in the infield, and John Thompson led
the attack. John's range and smooth infield
play at shortstop turned this ball club around
after a tough start. Well done, John.
Tom Meldrum is the only TWO TIME Rookie of
the Year Award winner in the history of this
team. Tom won the R.O.Y. for the spring Masters
team, and now wins it for the fall 1999 team.
[I didn't want to mention that Tom will also
be the OLDEST R.O.Y. in the history of the
team, but he is, har har!]
Fall 1999 Lessons
There is one lesson this team must learn
from the fall 1999 season: Every game counts!
Oddly, the fall 1999 season was decided on the
opening day. Our long-time rivals, the dastardly
Black Roosters (now calling themselves Stuart Grey),
soundly defeated us on our first fall season date,
and we were forced to play catch up for the
rest of the season. Although we stayed close,
we could not make up the difference no matter how
hard we tried.
In any event, it was a fun season and a fine time for
all! I can't WAIT for next season! Get ready! Spring
training is not far away!
Oh, and be advised that I am developing a REAL
TASTE for Rooster Wings once again! How about
you?...--Jay
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