WCBL all-stars unveiled, Mavs name team award winners

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on September 18, 2024.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

The Western Canadian Baseball League crowned the cream of the crop from the 2024 summer.

The WCBL named the regular season all-star selections for the 2024 season on Monday. The announcement includes first team and second team rosters with pitchers, catchers, infielders, outfielders and designated hitters.

The Medicine Hat Mavericks had four players named to the league’s all-star teams.

Catcher Nick Thibodeau was named to the first all-star team after putting up a .332 batting average, 63 RBI, 11 home runs and 42 runs in 50 games.

Infielders Johnny Vulcano, Tyler Vanneste and outfielder Jordan Phillips were named to the WCBL’s second all-star team.

Vulcano notched 31 runs, 26 RBI and 10 doubles in 52 games with the Mavs.

Vanneste had a .367 batting average with 38 runs and 30 RBI in 36 games. Phillips played in 55 games, with a .351 batting average, recording 62 RBI, 55 runs, 19 doubles, nine home runs and 10 stolen bases.

The WCBL named Sylvan Lake Gulls head coach Jason Chatwood as the league’s coach of the year.

Chatwood has been the Gulls’ head coach since they entered the WCBL in 2021, he led Sylvan Lake to a new league record with a 44-12 season.

The WCBL coach of the year award was voted on by coaches across the league. Chatwood finished ahead of Lou Pote (Okotoks Dawgs), Joe Carnahan (Saskatoon Berries) and Ryan MacDonald (Lethbridge Bulls) in the voting. Kevin Mitchell of the Mavericks won the award in 2023.

The rest of the league awards, rookie of the year, most outstanding Canadian, most outstanding pitcher and MVP are still to be announced.

Mavs team awards

The Mavs named all five of their team award winners last week on social media.

Vanneste was named the Mavs’ unsung hero of the 2024 season. He led the team with a .367 batting average through 147 at bats.

Thibodeau was named Medicine Hat’s top Canadian player, leading the team with 11 home runs, setting a new Mavs’ record with 63 RBIs, second in the WCBL.

Second baseman Marshall Burke was crowned the Mavs’ rookie of the year. The freshman infielder led the WCBL in at bats (246) and tied the league lead with 85 hits on the season. Burke had 18 doubles and recorded 15 stolen bases, appearing in 54 games.

Jacob Petersheim was titled the Mavs’ pitcher of the year. He ranked second in the WCBL with a 3.25 ERA, leading the Mavs with 63.2 innings pitched. He had a team-leading five wins, allowing just 56 hits.

The Mavs’ MVP for 2024 was Phillips who stood out in his first season in the red and white. He led the Mavs with 19 doubles, rocking a .351 batting average and challenged the WBCL RBI record, finishing with 62.

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