Orleans Firebirds

Nicholson, Several Cardinals Win Awards

August 18, 2008

Orleans, Mass. – Manager Kelly Nicholson was voted the recipient of the 2008 Mike Curran Manager of the Year award after leading the Orleans Cardinals to a league-best 25-17-2 record. The award is voted on by the ten league managers and is the only award handed out by the CCBL as selected by the recipient’s peers.

Nicholson has now won the award twice in four years at the helm of the Cards. He also received the honor in 2005 after leading Orleans to a record-setting 30 win season, an Eastern Division title and a league championship. He is just the third multiple winner of the award in its 31-year history.

The Cardinals have now finished with a winning record in all four years they have been led by Nicholson. His career record is 100-72-4 and he has also posted a 4-4 mark in two playoff appearances. He earned his 100^th career victory in the final regular season game of 2008 with a 9-4 win over rival Chatham.

The other league award won by the Cardinals was received by RHP Matt Thomson (San Diego). The right-hander was named to the 2008 Cape Cod All-League team as a starting pitcher for the Eastern Division. Thomson finished the season with a 4-0 record and a 1.66 ERA. In his final start of the summer he provided 7.1 scoreless innings in Game Two of the Eastern Divisional series.

The Cardinals also announced recipients for several team awards handed out annually by the organization.

1B Nate Freiman (Duke) and LHP Adam Wilk (Long Beach St.) were co-recipients of the Charles F. Moore Jr. award for outstanding performance on and off the field. Both players spent several hours in the community signing autographs and as counselors for the Cardinals youth clinics that attract hundreds of children over the course of the summer.

The Thomas Yankus Pitching Award was earned by both Thomson and Wilk. Thomson led the team in innings pitched (48.2) and was tied for the team lead in wins (4). He also struck out 39 hitters.

Wilk spent most of the summer in the team’s eighth inning setup role and was consistently reliable. The left-hander was 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA and led the team with 21 appearances out of the bullpen.

Freiman was also honored with the Castleberry Coaches’ Award given out by the Cardinals coaching staff. In his second season with Orleans, Freiman hit .253 with five home runs and 17 RBIs. He was even more impressive defensively, making several difficult plays at first base and posting a .994 fielding percentage.

The Harry Hossfield Spirit Award was given to broadcasters Andrew Gothelf (Northwestern) and Brett Brecheisen (Florida State) for hard work, sportsmanship, leadership and courage. The two interns both completed their second year with the organization and assisted the coaching staff, players and media in their daily functions. They also energetically helped each day with the Cardinals' youth clinics.

OF Tim Wheeler (Sacramento St.) earned the team’s most prestigious honor, the Charles F. Moore Sr. Most Valuable Player award. Wheeler sparked the team when he was moved to the leadoff position on June 30^th. The Sacramento, Calif. native helped the Cardinals go 16-2-1 after the switch and lifted Orleans to the regular season Eastern Division title. He led the team with 27 runs scored and was second in the team in hitting (.265) and RBIs (17). Wheeler also won the league’s stolen base crown with 15 swipes on the year. Past recipients of the MVP award include Dennis Raben, Matt Wieters, Emmanuel Burriss, Russ Adams, Lance Niekro, Todd Helton and Nomar Garciaparra.

The Cardinals’ season ended on August 10^th after an 18-inning loss in Game Two of the Eastern Divisional Series to the eventual league champions, the Harwich Mariners. It was the 23^rd playoff appearance for Orleans since 1963.

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Home Firebirds News Game Day Central Roster Statistics Coaching Staff Sounds of the Game Clinics Volunteer Alumni Contact	Nicholson, Several Cardinals Win Awards August 18, 2008 Orleans, Mass. – Manager Kelly Nicholson was voted the recipient of the 2008 Mike Curran Manager of the Year award after leading the Orleans Cardinals to a league-best 25-17-2 record. The award is voted on by the ten league managers and is the only award handed out by the CCBL as selected by the recipient’s peers. Nicholson has now won the award twice in four years at the helm of the Cards. He also received the honor in 2005 after leading Orleans to a record-setting 30 win season, an Eastern Division title and a league championship. He is just the third multiple winner of the award in its 31-year history. The Cardinals have now finished with a winning record in all four years they have been led by Nicholson. His career record is 100-72-4 and he has also posted a 4-4 mark in two playoff appearances. He earned his 100^th career victory in the final regular season game of 2008 with a 9-4 win over rival Chatham. The other league award won by the Cardinals was received by RHP Matt Thomson (San Diego). The right-hander was named to the 2008 Cape Cod All-League team as a starting pitcher for the Eastern Division. Thomson finished the season with a 4-0 record and a 1.66 ERA. In his final start of the summer he provided 7.1 scoreless innings in Game Two of the Eastern Divisional series. The Cardinals also announced recipients for several team awards handed out annually by the organization. 1B Nate Freiman (Duke) and LHP Adam Wilk (Long Beach St.) were co-recipients of the Charles F. Moore Jr. award for outstanding performance on and off the field. Both players spent several hours in the community signing autographs and as counselors for the Cardinals youth clinics that attract hundreds of children over the course of the summer. The Thomas Yankus Pitching Award was earned by both Thomson and Wilk. Thomson led the team in innings pitched (48.2) and was tied for the team lead in wins (4). He also struck out 39 hitters. Wilk spent most of the summer in the team’s eighth inning setup role and was consistently reliable. The left-hander was 2-1 with a 1.69 ERA and led the team with 21 appearances out of the bullpen. Freiman was also honored with the Castleberry Coaches’ Award given out by the Cardinals coaching staff. In his second season with Orleans, Freiman hit .253 with five home runs and 17 RBIs. He was even more impressive defensively, making several difficult plays at first base and posting a .994 fielding percentage. The Harry Hossfield Spirit Award was given to broadcasters Andrew Gothelf (Northwestern) and Brett Brecheisen (Florida State) for hard work, sportsmanship, leadership and courage. The two interns both completed their second year with the organization and assisted the coaching staff, players and media in their daily functions. They also energetically helped each day with the Cardinals' youth clinics. OF Tim Wheeler (Sacramento St.) earned the team’s most prestigious honor, the Charles F. Moore Sr. Most Valuable Player award. Wheeler sparked the team when he was moved to the leadoff position on June 30^th. The Sacramento, Calif. native helped the Cardinals go 16-2-1 after the switch and lifted Orleans to the regular season Eastern Division title. He led the team with 27 runs scored and was second in the team in hitting (.265) and RBIs (17). Wheeler also won the league’s stolen base crown with 15 swipes on the year. Past recipients of the MVP award include Dennis Raben, Matt Wieters, Emmanuel Burriss, Russ Adams, Lance Niekro, Todd Helton and Nomar Garciaparra. The Cardinals’ season ended on August 10^th after an 18-inning loss in Game Two of the Eastern Divisional Series to the eventual league champions, the Harwich Mariners. It was the 23^rd playoff appearance for Orleans since 1963.