Miners Organization win's Awards

The Southern Illinois Miners were named the Organization of the Year.

2B – Ralph Santana – Southern Illinois Miners

Newspaper of the Year – The Southern Illinoisan

Blog of the Year- Mine, ok maybe not, but I try.




The Frontier League is pleased to announce its 2007 All-Star Team and award winners. In one of the closest votes in League history, Travis Garcia, shortstop of the Chillicothe Paints has been named the League’s Most Valuable Player and wins The Morgan Burkhart Award. Garcia is a 3-time Post-Season All-Star. His stellar defense and clutch hitting led the Paints for the entire season.

Aaron Ledbetter, of the Washington Wild Things claimed the Brian Tollberg Award as the League’s Most Valuable Pitcher. In 2007, he became the new Frontier League career record holder for wins. The right-hander ranked among the League leaders in wins, ERA, and innings pitched.

Windy City Manager, Andy Haines, has won the Roger Hanners Award for Manager of the Year, after leading his club to a new League record for wins in a single season. Haines, in his first year as a manager, led the ThunderBolts to their first Division title and post-season appearance in the club’s history.

In other League Awards, Ryan Basham, outfielder of the Florence Freedom claimed The Jason Simontacchi Award as the League’s Rookie of the Year. The Fran Riordan Citizenship Award was won by River City Rascals pitcher Steve Brook for his many efforts in off-the-field endeavors in the O’Fallon, Missouri area. The Southern Illinois Miners were named the Organization of the Year. Gateway Grizzlies General Manager, Tony Funderburg, was named the Executive of the Year.

The following is the entire list of 2007 All-Star Team and award winners.

1B – Mike Breyman – Gateway Grizzlies
2B – Ralph Santana – Southern Illinois Miners
3B – Joe Ramos – Kalamazoo Kings
SS – Travis Garcia – Chillicothe Paints
OF – Jon Armitage – Gateway Grizzlies
OF – Mike Coles – Windy City ThunderBolts
OF – Jason James – Rockford RiverHawks
C – Mike Russell – Kalamazoo Kings
DH – Dustin Roberts – Gateway Grizzlies
SP – Aaron Ledbetter – Washington Wild Things
RP – Matt Petty – Windy City Thunderbolts

Morgan Burkhart Award (Most Valuable Player) – Travis Garcia – Chillicothe Paints

Brian Tollberg Award (Most Valuable Pitcher) – Aaron Ledbetter – Washington Wild Things

Roger Hanners Award (Manager of the Year) – Andy Haines – Windy City ThunderBolts

Jason Simontacchi Award (Rookie of the Year) – Ryan Basham – Florence Freedom

Fran Riordan Citizenship Award – Steve Brook – River City Rascals

Organization of the Year – Southern Illinois Miners

Executive of the Year – Tony Funderburg – Gateway Grizzlies

Coach of the Year – Brendan Sagara – Windy City ThunderBolts

Trainer of the Year – Geof Manzo – Gateway Grizzlies

Groundskeeper of the Year – Chris Young – River City Rascals

Broadcaster of the Year – Roger Redmon – Florence Freedom

Newspaper of the Year – The Southern Illinoisan

Writer of the Year – Phil Gray – Chillicothe Gazette

Umpire of the Year – Jim Schaly