Booster Club Announces Player Awards

Pope, Snyder, Ortiz and LaSala awarded

By: Robert Pimpsner

September 6, 2007 – It is the end of the regular season, and as per usual it is time to announce the 2007 Player Awards, presented by the Staten Island Yankees Booster Club.  Just as in years past the awards were presented in a special ceremony prior to the game on Thursday, September 6.

                The Booster Club hands out awards annually for the Most Valuable Player, Pitcher of the Year, Fireman of the Year, and the Fan Favorite.  It comes to no surprise to some that the MVP of 2007 is Justin Snyder.  The young versatile player has bounced around third, shortstop, second and even centerfield all the while batting .340 on the season.  Snyder is currently the All-Time Single Season leader in walks and runs scored, while just 3 hits shy of the record for hits.  He is also on pace to break the club’s record for batting average, set by Wilmer Pino last season.

                Pitcher of the Year honors fall to the Yankees third round draft pick for 2007, Ryan Pope.  The young-right hander has dominated the league since joining the Yankees on July 14 and has a perfect 3-0 record.  Pope had struck out 45 players in just 42.1 innings.  There was no other pitcher to choose for the Fireman of the Year award, as “The Sandman” Jonathan Ortiz took home the plaque.  Ortiz has 13 saves this year and is now third on the All-Time list.

                This brings it down to the Fan Favorite award, as usual this award is chosen by vote at the ballpark.  Fans chose backstop James LaSala for this award.  LaSala is in his second season with the Baby Bombers, his first full season.  Some fans may remember his name in the papers when he had the opportunity to catch Roger Clemens on his way back to the bigs.