Last night was our awards dinner and our final time together as Saturday morning everyone would start departing for home. The program started at 6pm and didn't end until about 10pm. Each team was recognized and the team MVP was awarded a trophy. We were the last to be announced and we each were called up individually and presented our championship trophy and a glass of champagne for a toast. The coaches made a few comments about the team and announced Chris Hensley as our MVP. He was the winning pitcher in the championship game.There were also a number of other special awards such as top batting average (.720), top RBI's (17), top hits (17), top pitcher (39 innings) and Top Fielder that was voted on by all the coaches. Yours truly became the first ever catcher to win this award in camp history! It was by far the biggest and nicest award given out last night. I was totally surprised by this and was nearly speechless when asked to say a few words. My coaches said it was due to my leadership and take charge attitude on the field, directing the team and the way I was pouncing on the balls in front of the plate.
I don't think I could have written a better script to this rookie season of mine with the Cincinnati Reds. Who would have ever dreamed that I would go 13 for 26 with 10 RBI's and a .500 batting average let alone score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh with 2 outs! And after all that, to be awarded the Roy McMillan award for the Top Fielder. Truly a storybook ending.
We are all invited back to Cincinnati on August 15th and 16th for a reunion and to be introduced prior to the Reds game on Sunday, August 15th. We will then get to play a game there at Great American Ballpark on Monday morning.
I have returned home now and have countless memories, pictures, autographs, stories, memorabilia and an official #5 Cincinnati Reds uniform with my name on it. I have made a number of new friends across the country and even with some of the pros who told me to stay in touch. With spring training out here in AZ, several of them will be coming to the valley more often now and said they would give me a call so we can meet for dinner and some drinks. I don't think that I have ever worked harder on a vacation but I know I have never had so much fun living a dream!
Until the next time...
Congratulations again on a good week, dad. It was fun reading your blog.
ReplyDeletei too was speechless when your mother asked me to say a few words about your blog. good job. it was a pleasure to read about your week. looking forward to the film at 11.
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