Round Rock Express Winter Banquet

[Shawn_E.]

ROUND ROCK – The Round Rock Express and News 8 Austin will welcome veteran Major League outfielder and general manager Tom Grieve to The Dell Diamond on Thursday, February 12 as the keynote speaker for the 9th Annual Express Winter Baseball Banquet.

The banquet benefits the Young Men’s Business League’s Sunshine Camps and recognizes professional, collegiate and high school players from around the Central Texas area. Honorees are selected through polling of area coaches, input from the Round Rock Express and voting from area sports reporters.

This year’s banquet will recognize the 2009 Express Pre-Season Central Texas High School All-Star Team, the Collegiate Pitcher and Player of the Year, the Express Pitcher and Player of the Year, the Professional Player of the Year, the James Keller Award recipient and the Jackie Moore Lifetime Achievement Award winner. In addition, this year’s award ceremony will also include the 2009 Central Texas High School Impact Player of the Year award honoring a player who has made an impact in his school or community through leadership, service and academic dedication.

Tickets are $75 and are available online by clicking here or by contacting Director of Special Events, Laura Whatley Fragoso, at (512) 238-2210 or laura@rrexpress.com.

Former Texas Rangers general manager Tom Grieve, who spent nine seasons in the Major Leagues as a player before moving into the front office, will serve the banquet’s main address. Grieve’s keynote speech, along with the concurring dinner, will help benefit the Young Men’s Business League of Austin.

Founded more than 95 years ago, the YMBL has provided camp retreats for children since 1928. The mission of the Austin YMBL’s Sunshine Camps is to provide deserving children of Austin, and of the surrounding areas, with programs that provide them opportunities for personal development, necessary skills in order to succeed in school as well as in life, and the hope for a better future.

2009 Express Winter Banquet Award Winners

2009 Express Pre-Season Central Texas High School All-Star Team
RHP: Nathan Thornhill; Cedar Park High School
LHP: David Ramirez; Bowie High School
C: Nick de Santiago, Hays High School and Josh Elander, Round Rock High School (co-catchers)
1B: Mike Rains, Stony Point High School
2B: Nick Belisle, St. Andrews Episcopal School
3B: Parker French, Dripping Springs High School
SS: Eric Garcia, Hendrickson High School
OF: Jason Stone, Georgetown High School;
OF: Cohl Walla, Lake Travis High School;
OF: Everett Williams, McCallum High School
UT: Suraj Manikundalam, Round Rock High School

2009 Express Impact Player of the Year
Nyk McKissic, Stony Point High School

2009 Express Central Texas Collegiate Awards
Collegiate Player of the Year: Michael Torres, University of Texas
Collegiate Pitcher of the Year: Chance Ruffin, University of Texas

2009 Express Organizational Awards
Express Player of the Year: Mark Saccomanno
Express Pitcher of the Year: Josh Muecke

2009 Express Professional Player of the Year
John Danks, Chicago White Sox

James Keller Award, presented by Men’s Senior Baseball League
Linda Lowery

Jackie Moore Lifetime Achievement Award
Al LaMacchia

 

[Shawn_E.]

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