2007 Cary Bulls Player Awards
Batting Average - Brian Rhino - .442
31 hits in 70 at bats
Earned Run Average - Travis Lush (0.94)
6 earned runs allowed in 44.67 innings
Pitching Award - Travis Lush
Travis led all Bulls pitchers in innings, batters faced, strikeouts and ERA. Opposing batters hit just .208 off him and he walked just 11 batters. Travis started 11 games on the mound and always gave the Bulls a good chance to be leading after the first couple of innings. His pickoff move and quick delivery to the plate discouraged the opponents' running game and he defended his position very well.
Defensive Award - Drew Woodall
Drew played the most demanding defensive position and played it extremely well. He led the team in total chances with 209 and in fielding percentage with .995 in 245 innings. He was outstanding at calling pitches and was a solid leader for our defense.
Offensive Award - Eric Brady
Eric led our team in at-bats (130), doubles (19), HRs (6), RBIs (39) and total bases (87). He was a consistent hitter in the middle of our order and batted .384 (50/130) while posting a .669 slugging percentage. He walked twice as much as he struck out and was very dependable in producing runs for the Bulls.
Rookie of the Year - Will Smith
One of several 1st year players who made a big impact on this year's team, Will made quality contributions to the team at the plate by hitting .410 with 11-2B, 1-3B and a HR, defensively at 3rd where he compiled a .876 fielding % in 65 chances and on the mound where he pitched 14 innings and compiled a solid 1.50 ERA. Will worked extremely hard on his game and improved in all aspects as the season progressed. He was a great teammate and will be counted on as a leader next season.
Hustle Award - TJ Ruth
We could always count on TJ to give his best efforts no matter what role he was asked to play. He played 190 innings at 2nd and in the outfield for the Bulls and was never hesitant to make a play. When not in the line-up he was our first choice to run for the pitcher or catcher. He played the game as hard as he could and did it with a smile on his face. He was on time, ran until he was out and respected the game.
Coach's Award - Hunter Carr
Hunter was one of several players who are deserving of this award. He stood out among the others for several reasons. He was a solid producer defensively, offensively and on the mound. He was a great teammate and well-liked by everyone. He gave his best effort every day and played with a smile on his face. He was very coachable and always put the team success ahead of his own. He was a quiet leader by example for this year's team. These contributions, as outstanding as they are, pale to the level of commitment he gave our program. Many people who hold important roles in Hunter’s life discouraged him from playing with the Bulls. They tried to convince him to take the path they wanted him to take. Through all this pressure Hunter stood tall and made the decision he knew was right. We all should follow his example as we make decisions in our lives.
Most Valuable Player - Hunter Carr & Houston Hawley
This year for the first time ever, we have two players who are equally deserving of this award. They are both two-year players who excelled in all aspects of the game. They both were team leaders and made tough decisions to play for the Bulls.
Hunter set an all-time Bulls record for appearances as a pitcher with 46 while Houston set the all-time ERA mark at 1.56. Both excelled offensively as Hunter led the Bulls in hits with 51 and runs with 41 while Houston posted a .412 batting average and .510 on base percentage. They both played key defensive positions when not pitching and both had fielding percentages over .960. The both threw 40 innings, struck out more than twice as many as they walked, and had ERAs around 2.10. Hunter started 11 games on the mound and appeared in 21 while Houston started 9 and appeared in 23. They both were named to the All-Tournament team at the State Tournament for the second straight year. These two young men had great careers for the Bulls and will always hold a special place in our program.
Bull of the Year - Drew Woodall
This award is the Player's Choice Award and is chosen by secret ballot of the player's and coaches. Performance, leadership, attitude, hustle and dedication are factors that were to be considered. This season Drew played in a team-best 54 games and in 3 seasons with the Bulls he was part of 117 wins and 28 losses. He was an outstanding mentor to Matt Nusbaum and Ryan “Bobby” Bouton this season and was a great teammate to everyone. He was an outstanding player on the field both offensively and defensively but made a bigger contribution as the leader of the Bulls. He played the game as hard as he could and took great pride in wearing the Bulls uniform. For these reasons his teammates voted him as their best teammate. Drew will be sorely missed as he moves forward in his baseball career.
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