Valley's Best To Be Honored At Hot Stove
FRESNO, CA - The Fresno Grizzlies will honor the Central Valley's best in baseball and softball at the 47th Annual Hot Stove Banquet on February 9th, 2008 at The Fresno Convention Center. Awards for Male Player of the Year, Female Player of the Year, Team of the Year, and Coach of the Year will be presented along with the prestigious Al Radka Award as the Grizzlies and the Fresno baseball community take a step back in time.
In addition to keynote speaker Harmon Killebrew, renowned Bay Area broadcaster Lon Simmons has recently been added to the docket as a featured guest and speaker. A Hall of Fame broadcaster and local legend, Simmons rejoined the San Francisco Giants in 2006, serving in a capacity as a community ambassador and fill-in broadcaster. The man with the trademark "Tell It Goodbye" home run call retired to Hawaii after the 2002 season and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY in the summer of 2004.
The 2008 Hot Stove Banquet, which begins at 5pm with hor'dourves and cocktails, will be headlined by Killebrew, Simmons, and Grizzlies manager Dan Rohn and will feature a live auction to benefit the Grizzlies Community Fund. The program will honor some of area's top baseball and softball talent with the following awards:
Male Player of the Year - Josh Poytress, Fowler High School: Poytress, who enters his 2008 senior season as the two-time defending Southwest Sierra League MVP, has dominated the San Joaquin Valley on the mound, at the plate, and in the field since arriving at Fowler High School. The six-foot tall southpaw was 9-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 67.0 innings of work as a junior, and led his team with 16 stolen bases from the leadoff spot in the batting order. Already committed to Fresno State to play baseball, he also quarterbacked the Fowler football team to the Valley Championship game.
Female Player of the Year - Christine Thomsen, Bullard High School: Thomsen, headed to Colorado State in the fall, is a three-year letter winner for the Knights. She was named first-team all-state in 2007 and league MVP. She was honored as the Team Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007 and was also named League Underclassmen of the Year in 2006. Regarded as one of the best power hitters seen in the area in recent years, Thomsen helped state her case in her junior season with the first home run hit out of Bullard's field since 1999, in a game in which also established a school record with seven RBI.
Team of the Year - Fowler High School Baseball: Despite one of the most daunting schedules in Division 5, Coach Bill Feaver's Fowler Redcats steamrolled the competition in 2007, on their way to a 33-2 record and a second consecutive section championship. Led by a trio of NCAA Division 1-bound players, including Player of the Year Josh Poytress, the Redcats ended the year as the #7 team in the state of California, and the #1 team in Division 5. Entering his tenth season at the helm, Coach Feaver has led Fowler to three section titles, and five league titles, in his nine years and they approach the 2008 season as the favorites to add to that impressive list of credentials.
Coach of the Year - John Hollet, Jr., Selma High School Baseball: In what can only be described as a trying season, Coach John Hollet Jr. began 2007 by undergoing brain surgery and lost his mother to a heart attack two months later. Despite the adversity, Hollet returned to the bench to lead Selma (25-7-1) to its first section title since 1993. At the outset of the season, a year dedicated to Hollet and his mother by the players, Selma was expected to challenge for a title, but a 2-5 start cooled those thoughts. However, the Bears rallied under their coach's leadership to win the Central Sequoia League title with a 14-1 league record.
Al Radka Award - Bob Bennett, Former Fresno State Baseball Coach: Coach Bob Bennett made invaluable contributions to Fresno State and the game of baseball in the San Joaquin Valley in his 34 seasons guiding the Bulldogs baseball program. The Al Radka award, celebrating an individual that has made a contribution to the community through the game of baseball, will be presented for the 6th time at this year's Hot Stove. Radka started the Fresno Hot Stove over 50 years ago and the award was created as a testament to his vision.
Bennett wrapped up his career with a 1,302-759-4 record, and in his final season became just the seventh coach in NCAA history to reach 1,300 wins. He took a program that was enjoying a successful run under former head coach Pete Beiden and took it to another level. Under his leadership, Fresno State built Beiden Field into a first-class facility and Bennett was largely responsible for the Bulldogs becoming a model in the area of facilities, ticket sales, fan support, and community pride.
The 47th Annual Hot Stove Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, Feburary 9th, with the evening's activities slated to begin at 5:00pm, at the Fresno Convention Center. Tickets are $60 for adults, $15 for children, and $550 to reserve a table of ten. Proceeds from the 2008 Hot Stove will benefit the Grizzlies Community Fund, a non-profit organization created to spearhead efforts to assist, reward, and support the Central Valley. For ticket information, call 559.320.HITS.