Spikes name 2016 team award winners
The State College Spikes announced their 2016 year-end award winners before the regular season home finale at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Infielder Tommy Edman was named the club's Most Valuable Player, while right-handed pitcher Steven Farinaro earned the Spikes' Pitcher of the Year award and Danny Hudzina won the Josiah Viera Perseverance Award.
Edman, the Cardinals' 2016 sixth-round draft choice out of Stanford, has been a constant spark at the top of the order this season. The San Diego, CA native is leading the New York-Penn League with 60 runs scored and 45 walks through September 4. Edman has also produced 23 extra-base hits to lead the Spikes, including 14 doubles and four home runs, while knocking in 33 runs and compiling a .402 on-base percentage over the Spikes' first 74 games.
The infielder joins Justin Byler (2007), Chase d'Arnaud (2008) Brock Holt (2009), Adalberto Santos (2010), Wes Freeman (2011), D.J. Crumlich (2012), David Washington (2013), Danny Diekroeger (2014) and Casey Grayson (2015) on the list of Spikes MVP award winners.
Farinaro set the Spikes' single-season wins record with a 9-1 record through September 4. The righty also has the opportunity on Sunday to become the first pitcher in franchise history to double-digit wins. Farinaro has compiled a 3.72 ERA with 46 strikeouts to 17 walks over 77 1/3 innings this season. The Hayward, CA native has also seen steady improvement this season, culminating in an ongoing streak of 19 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.
The righty joins Tony Watson (2007), Alan Knotts (2008), Kyle McPherson (2009), Kevin Decker (2010), Nick Kingham (2011), Clay Holmes (2012), Nick Petree (2013), Will Anderson (2014) and Pedro Echemendia (2015) as recipients of the Spikes' Pitcher of the Year award.
The Josiah Viera Perseverance Award was introduced in 2014 as a tribute to the Spikes' honorary bench coach. Josiah faces challenges everyday due to Hutchinson/Gilford progeria but has become a rallying point for the Spikes over the past three seasons thanks to his determination, perseverance and joyous spirit in the face of adversity.
Hudzina, the Cardinals' 2016 10th-round draft choice out of Western Kentucky earned the award this year by overcoming a 1-for-24 start at the plate in his pro career. The Palm City, FL native came back to reach a high-water mark of a .277 average on August 9, and received a berth in the 2016 NYPL All-Star Game for his efforts. Hudzina is now hitting .234 with three home runs and 19 runs batted in through September 6.
The third baseman follows 2015 catcher Jose Godoy as a recipient of this prestigious honor.
The Spikes' award winners will be back in action for the New York-Penn League playoffs as they are #BackInTheHunt, presented by Lion Country Kia and HRI, Inc. The playoffs will begin on Wednesday, September 7, with the Spikes guaranteed to host Game 2 of the first-round NYPL Semifinal Series on Thursday, September 8 at 7:05 p.m.
Thursday's home playoff game will also feature a special postseason edition of $1 Beer Thursday, presented by BIG Froggy 101. 12-oz. domestic draft beers will be available for just $1 apiece from 6-8 p.m.
In anticipation of as many as four potential September home playoff games at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, Spikes Four-Game Playoff Packs are now available for purchase. Playoff Packs start as low as just $16 per seat and include a $4 per game savings off the single-game price. In addition, each seat purchased as part of a Four-Game Playoff Pack will come with a free, limited-edition Spikes Rally Towel while supplies last.
Fans can purchase Four-Game Playoff Packs by visiting the Spikes Ticket Office at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, or by calling (814) 272-1711 during normal Ticket Office hours (9 a.m. to end of game on game days Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to end of game on game days Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on non-game days Monday-Friday).