This Pirate baseball tradition is in its 14th year, in which the winners of the Black & Blue Series eat steak, while the losing team enjoys hot dogs. However, for the first time in 14 years, the dinner will be held in January of 2018 before the season opener, as a scheduling conflict occurred with former Pirate, Tim Hudson, and the availability of his farm for a day of good food, fun and fellowship.
This year, 15 different CVCC baseball players were recognized in various award categories, with numerous others gaining recognition for Iron Pirate glory and for Black and Blue Series outstanding play.
WILL CAMPBELL BIG STICK AWARD – Kale Ledford
This award goes to the offensive leader of the fall season. This fall, Kale was, without question, the offensive catalyst for the Pirates in terms of quality at bats, batting average and run production.
CHASE BURKS STAFF AWARD – Casey Cobb
This award recognizes the top pitcher of the fall season. The sophomore All American righty was literally the team leader in every major pitching category, leading the team in wins, ERA, Strikeouts, strikeout:walk ratio, and lowest opponents’ batting average.
JT THOMAS DEFENSIVE AWARD – Michael Feliz
This award honors the player that had the biggest impact defensively. Mikey Baseball was simply the shutdown defensive leader of the infield, dominating the routine play, while making plenty of SportsCenter highlight plays. He did so while playing all three of the infield skill positions
JARED KAHN ACADEMIC AWARD – Austin Wojick
This award goes to the sophomore player possessing the team’s highest GPA. Austin has dominated the classroom in his 3 semesters of work, earning a 3.92 GPA thus far.
TOM RICHARDSON IRON PIRATE AWARD – Davis Schwartz and Jacob Menders
This award recognizes the semester long individual challenge in the team’s daily CrossFit workouts. Points are earned based upon each players finish in each workout. Davis and Jacob were absolute beasts this fall, as they dominated the off season workouts. Along with their certificates, Schwartz and Menders earned an Iron Pirate t-shirt.
IRON PIRATE GAMES CHAMPS – Team Schwartz
Team Schwartz consisted of Captain Davis Schwartz, Brycen Jones, Michael Feliz, Jack Copley, Cole Ganopulos, Sawyer Steele, Chris Bergmoser and Kendall Marshall.
IRON PIRATE GAMES PRIME TIME PERFORMER – Tre Kirklin
This award is a player voted award that went to the athlete that exhibited the greatest individual effort during the Iron Pirate Games. Kirklin literally put his team on his back and won nearly every event in which he competed. His efforts were heroic and selfless in nature while exhibiting extraordinary leadership. The event of note was his ground to overhead AMRAP in which he went unbroken for one round and did again in an overtime event.
HOLLAND BROTHERS TOP NEWCOMER AWARD – Jake Menders
This award honors the first year athlete (either freshman or transfer) that had the biggest impact on the team. Transfer pitcher, Jacob Menders, was that young man. Menders absolutely dominated this fall and will be one of the top arms on a very talented 2018 Pirate pitching staff.
DYLAN LEE MOST IMPROVED PLAYER AWARD – Charles Crosby and Davis Schwartz
This award recognizes a second or third year athlete that has made the biggest improvement since arriving to CVCC. Crosby contributed greatly as a freshman for the Pirates on the mound, but it was his improvement in character and leadership that garnered him the award. Dave, a redshirt freshman, simply became the player that the staff expected, as he was one of the top offensive and defensive players for CVCC after a tough true freshman fall.
ALEX CABRAL HUSTLE AWARD – Isaac Phillips and Carson Allison
Named in honor of former Pirate, Alex Cabral, this award honors the athlete that displays the most and consistent hustle and work ethic on and off the field, as well as in the weight room. Both Phillips and Allison exemplify this award with his “never take a day off, never take a play off” mentality. This is evident by his play on both the practice field and during CrossFit workouts. Like Cabby, there is never any question as to whether Isaac and Carson are going as hard as they can possibly go, as they both play like their hair is on fire.
DAVID BUCHANAN DO IT RIGHT AWARD – Brandon Moseley
This award goes to the athlete that does exactly what the award says – Does it Right. Moseley is the epitome of detailed oriented and performs every drill, exercise, workout, and task exactly as prescribed to his fullest capabilities and with the utmost intensity. This is particularly special being that Brandon was injured all fall and recovering from surgery. That he won this award says everything one needs to know about Moseley.
TY McTIER COACHES’ AWARDS – Tre Kirklin, John Devine, Fuzzy Furr, Joe Taylor, Andrew Greckel
This award was created for, and named in honor of, former Pirate, Ty McTier. This award recognizes the consumate team player, leadership by example, work ethic, winning attitude, unselfishness, good citizenship, and character development over the course of their careers. These five young men mirror these qualities in a manner of which Ty McTier represented CVCC Baseball.
BLACK AND BLUE SERIES CO-MVP’s – Isaac Phillips and Jack Lipson
These 2 shared the award for their outstanding play in leading Coach Bill White’s Blue Squad to Series win the annual battle royal.
JAKE MAZIAR TEAMMATE AWARD – Brandon Moseley
This award recognizes the player that best demonstrates the characteristics of former Pirate catcher, Jake Maziar, and his attributes of the best teammate to wear a Pirate uniform. This represents the young man who is selfless in his play, work, practice, and giving of himself. He simply puts the team and everyone else above his own personal gain. Jake was the epitome of this award, while Brandon has demonstrated these characteristics to a T, as was represented by his Do It Right Award.
GRAYSON IVEY DIRTY PIRATE AWARD – Casey Cobb
This award was the original award created by Coach Thomas back in 2002 for the fall season’s most outstanding player. The phrase Dirty Pirate probably does not do the award justice, as it certainly has a seemingly negative conotation. However, the phrase “Dirty Pirate” comes with a badge of honor, as at the turn of the 21st century, as the CVCC Baseball began making its run toward ACCC prominence, opposing teams referred to CVCC as the “Dirty Pirates”, recognizing the tougness, grit, and exceptional work ethic that the Pirate baseball team displayed during its contests. Hence, the Dirty Pirate Award was born. The award has developed and evolved through the years, though, as the present day award recipient must display the following qualities and characteristics: toughness, work ethic, academics, hustle, good defender, one of best hitters or pitchers on team, leadership, high character, the ability and willingness to things the right way, and coachability. In essance, this award is the consumate award for which a CVCC Baseball Player may be honored. It is all encompassing of all of the above mentioned awards and is named in honor of former Pirate, Grayson Ivey, who was one of the finest young men to wear the Carolina Blue and Gold. Casey Cobb represents the Dirty Pirate mentality as well as anyone that has worn a Pirate uniform.
CHATTAHOOCHEE VALLEY COMMUNITY COLLEGE 