Bonifay named Appy Manager of Year
GREENEVILLE, Tenn. -- Greeneville Astros manager Josh Bonifay has been named the 2013 Appalachian League Manager of the Year, the league announced today. In addition, the league Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year and All-Star Team were also announced.
Bonifay is the second manager of the Greeneville Astros to be named the league Manager of the Year following Tim Bogar during the team's inaugural season of 2004. Despite not having a player named to the All Star team, Bonifay has had the Astros at or near the top of the league standings for the majority of the season and led the Astros to a club-best 21-9 record during the month of July. Furthermore, under Bonifay's leadership and guidance, the Astros had a seven-game and a ten-game win streak, the two longest win streaks in club history.
Statistically speaking, with Bonifay preaching an unselfish attitude and a never-quit mentality, the team has set numerous club records. Astros batters have accounted for a league-leading 280 walks during the season which broke their previous record of 256 and is currently 70 more than any other club in the league. Furthermore, the team is also leading the league in sacrifice hits with 34 while the pitching staff has accounted for a league-best 21 saves.
The following is the league's All-Star team as well as all the league award winners:
2013 APPALACHIAN LEAGUE AWARDS
POSITION | NAME | TEAM | |
---|---|---|---|
C | Rowan Wick | Johnson City | |
1B | Sam Bates | Burlington | |
2B | Yeixon Ruiz | Kingsport | |
3B | Mitch Nay | Bluefield | |
SS | Tyler Smith | Pulaski | |
UTILITY INF | Kenny Peoples-Walls | Johnson City | |
DH | Matt Dean | Bluefield | |
UTILITY OF | Ian Miller | Pulaski | |
OF | Vaughn Bryan | Johnson City | |
OF | Nolan Earley | Bristol | |
OF | Zack Granite | Elizabethton | |
RHP | Edwin Diaz | Pulaski | |
LHP | Jairo LaBourt | Bluefield | |
RELIEF PITCHER | Emilio Pagan | Pulaski | |
PLAYER OF THE YEAR | Tyler Smith | Pulaski | |
PITCHER OF THE YEAR | Edwin Diaz | Pulaski | |
MANAGER OF THE YEAR | Josh Bonifay | Greeneville |