Manitoba Junior Baseball League 2015 Award Winners
League Champions – Daryl Steen Trophy - Altona Bisons
MVP – Carey Candy Trophy - Drake Pilat, Winnipeg South Chiefs
Batting – Vic Bozyk Trophy - Brett Harrison, St. Boniface Legionaires
Sportsmanship & Ability – Jacobucci Domes Trophy - Dustin Braun, Carillon Sultans
Baseball & Education – Kevin Paul Halford Trophy -  Peter Miedema, Elmwood Giants
Umpire of the Year – Sam Tascona Trophy - Ashton Liske
Manager of the Year – Ken Prodonick Trophy - Angus Klassen, Altona Bisons
Outstanding Pitcher – Jack Hind Trophy - Travis Friesen, Altona Bisons
Outstanding Defensive Player – Len Gzebb Trophy - Haydon Friesen, Altona Bisons
Rookie of the Year – Jack Thompson Trophy - Brett Harrison, St. Boniface Legionaires
University of Winnipeg Scholarship – Drake Pilat, Winnipeg South Chiefs
David Bowles Bursaries – Tyler Moskalyk, Elmwood Giants

 

The Manitoba Junior Baseball League saluted it's best earlier this month and president Jamie Bettens was thrilled with the 2015 season.

“I would describe it as a success on numerous fronts,” said Bettens. “We had more players than we've had in the past few years. We had St. James come back in the fold and we've increased our awareness around the province as to the importance of the Manitoba Junior Baseball League for 18-21 year-old players to continue their career after midget.”

“Success on the fact that the Altona Bisons won their first ever league championship and played the Winnipeg South Chiefs who were close to the bottom of the league for the past five years says a lot about the parity in the league so I'm very pleased with this years product.”

The MJBL operated with seven teams this past season and Bettens feels there are areas of the province where the league could grow.

“We've had some preliminary talks with some areas in rural Manitoba,” Bettens said. “It's no secret that there's still a hot-bed of players in the westman area and Brandon. We'd like to see something, even if it's on an exhibition basis. Portage is always strong and even up into the Neepawa area."

"The hard part is the competition with some of the other senior league's out there that also utilize those players and realizing that these players also have other commitments as well but if we keep working on our product and adding games to the schedule and doing a few other things that we're looking at tweaking for next year I think we can do something very exciting to attract those players and not have to go out and beg for them.”

 

Manitoba Junior Baseball League 2015 All-Stars
Catcher - Haydon Friesen, Altona Bisons
Left handed Pitcher – Eric Swanson, Winnipeg South Chiefs
Right handed Pitcher – Travis Friesen, Altona Bisons
First Base – Peter Miedema, Elmwood Giants
Second Base – Bryce Enns, Pembina Valley
Third Base – Jordan Wall, Altona Bisons
Shortstop – Josh Epp, Carillon Sultans
Outfielders – Brett Klassen, Altona, Luke Herr, Wpg South, Karlin Palidwor, St. Boniface
Utility Player – Quentin Dreger, Winnipeg South Chiefs
Designated Hitter – Dustin Braun, Carillon Sultans