66ers Duo Named Angels Players of the Month

San Bernardino, CA- A pair of Inland Empire 66ers players have been recognized as the Angels organizational players of the month for July. Inland Empire Catcher Carlos Ramirez was named Angels Defensive Player of the Month, and teammate Michael Wing was named the Angels' Offensive Player of the Month as well.

Inland Empire infielder Michael Wing hit .420 with seven home runs and a team best 25 RBI in just 22 games in July. Wing felt good at the plate, but said he was unaware of just how good his numbers were.

"I don't know what I hit during the month," said Wing. "I was really just comfortable going up to the plate and I was able to look for certain pitches. I wasn't chasing, I wasn't guessing, I was just confident."

"He's got some thunder in his bat," said 66ers Manager Damon Mashore of Wing. "I was impressed with how little he struck out that month."

In July, Wing got on base 48 times through hits, walks and being hit by pitches, compared to just nine strikeouts. Carlos Ramirez was awarded Angels Defensive Player of the Month for July. It's an award that is rarely given to catchers due to the high level of difficulty of the position compared to other defensive counterparts, but according to Manager Mashore, Carlos Ramirez is incredibly deserving.

"He's been unbelievable," said Mashore. "As a rule of thumb catchers are last looked at for defensive player of the month but he's improved 100 percent. He had a game where he had 27 blocks, and to his credit the pitchers feel that comfortable with him behind the plate that they can throw their finish breaking balls and know he will block them." Ramirez allowed just six wild pitches over the 16 games he appeared in during July and the team was 11-5 in those games. Ramirez gives a lot of the credit to his teammate, catcher Jose Jimenez, who Ramirez says pushes him to be better.

"We talk a lot about pitch calling and hitters before the games," said Ramirez about fellow catcher Jose Jimenez. "There are high expectations for us and it feels good to get recognized knowing how hard we work every day. It means a lot."

The 66ers, including Angels organizational players of the month Carlos Ramirez and Michael Wing, have over a dozen home games remaining in 2011. Including Heroes Night on Saturday, September 3rd, which will feature a post game fireworks extravaganza. Promotional information can be found online at www.66ers.com.

Inland Empire 66ers tickets are on sale now both at the 66ers box office as well as online at www.66ers.com. For more information on the Inland Empire 66ers please contact Sam Farber, Director of Broadcasting, at 909-495-7632.