The Cardinals inaugural season was a success, even though fell we a game short of the championship series. With the team's success, the Cardinals had some stand out performances. 

 

GSBL ALL-STAR SELECTIONS:

Although the 2020 GSBL All-Star Game was cancelled due to the pandemic. The Cardinals elected to name 3 players that would made the All-Star team, if it had not been cancelled. 

 

First All-Star Selection: Jimmy Leary

Second All-Star Selection: Frankie McCormick

Third All-Star Selection: Brian MacDonald

 

18+ MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: BRIAN MACDONALD

Leading the team in almost every offensive category, this was a no-brainer. Brian "B-Mac" MacDonald carried the team most of the year. 

 

18+ PLAYOFF MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: BRIAN MACDONALD

The Cardinals were carried by two players in the postseason. Jimmy Leary and Brian MacDonald. As good as Leary was against the Grizzlies, B-Mac's 2-homers, 5 RBIs were instrumental in the Cardinals beat the Grizzlies

 

TOURNAMENT TEAM MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: BEN QUICK

The Cardinals played in 2 tournaments in Year 1. Ben Quick's performance in the Field of Screams tourney gave him the slight edge over Omar Ortiz, who played in the Laconia Fall Classic and Eddie Bush, who played in both tournaments. 

 

In Quick's 2 games, he reached base safely in 5 of 7 plate appearances.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: BRIAN MACDONALD

This really came down to two players, but Brian MacDonald pulled away with his performance during the playoffs. 

 

Despite playing only 8 games, B-Mac led the team average (.500), sluggins percentage (.962), OPS (1.528), home runs (3), runs batted in (12), total bases (25) and Offensive WAR (5.7)

 

PITCHER OF THE YEAR: JIMMY LEARY

There is really only name here. Jimmy Leary

 

Despite missing time with injury, Leary lead team in almost every pitching catergory. ERA (2.05), wins (3), innings pitched (22.0), strikeouts (20), complete games (2) and pitching WAR (2.6).

 

Those 2 complete games were extremely important games for the Cardinals. First one was playoff-clinching Win over the eventual GSBL Champion Nashua Rockies and the second came in the Wild Card playoff win over the rival Granite State Grizzlies.  

 

GOLD GLOVE: BRIAN MACDONALD

Several players were in the running for this award. It was really close, but the numbers don't lie. Brian MacDonald edged out several players. 

 

MacDonald played stellar defense at the hot corner, led team in Defensive WAR (.54), recording 0 errors in 49 innings with 15 assists (2nd on team

 

COACHES AWARD: KENNY CROWNGINSHIELD

The coaches bandied about several names for this award, but ultimately believed Kenny Crowningshield was the right player to present this award to.

 

Crowningshield was always a team player, did anything required or requested by the coaches. Always gave it his all and was willing to sacrifice playing time to get others in.

 

Not to mention, every Sunday morning, he woke up early and drove three-plus hours from the Rutland, Vermont area to play baseball. That's a player any coach would want on a team. 

 

A special shutout to our #1 (and probably only fan) Julia Censullo, who shows up to every game to watch us play.