By WJBC Staff
NORMAL – Brooks Carey, the field manager of the West Division Champion Normal CornBelters was voted the Frontier League Manager of the Year on Thursday afternoon.
First baseman Aaron Dudley, second baseman Santiago Chirino and shortstop Pat McKenna were named postseason All-Stars.
The voice of the CornBelters radio network, Greg Halbleib, took home the Frontier League Broadcaster of the Year award, while the Pantagraph sports writer Randy Reinhardt was honored as the Frontier League Newspaper Writer of the Year.
“We are very proud of our six team members who are being recognized by the Frontier League for their outstanding work,” said CornBelters President/General Manager Steve Malliet. “They have all made significant contributions to an outstanding season for the CornBelters Organization on and off the field.”
Carey is in his third season as the manager of the CornBelters. This is the first time he has won the Frontier League Manager of the Year award. The Belters have set the franchise record for wins this season with 58 as of Thursday afternoon.
“I feel honored and fortunate to be part of the CornBelters family. Congratulations to Santiago Chirino, Pat McKenna and Aaron Dudley for their postseason All-Star selections,” said Carey. “Along with the support and efforts of Greg Halbleib and Randy Reinhardt, they make my job that much easier.”
The Toledo, Ohio native, Dudley, is currently second in the Frontier League with a .345 batting average. He is the team leader in doubles with 24.
Chirino is second on the team in average hitting .337 on the season. The second baseman is also second on the team in hits with 113 while only striking out 13 times all season.
The Belters veteran shortstop, McKenna, has been at the top of the Frontier League leaderboard for most the season. He is currently second in the league in home runs with 22 and is third in RBI with 69.
The voice of the CornBelters, Halbleib, is in his sixth season with the organization. This his 36th year of broadcasting various sports and is the first time that he has won the Frontier League Broadcaster of the Year award.
“The Frontier League broadcasters all do such a great job, so to say I’m humbled is an understatement. This is a labor of love and being able to broadcast is its own reward,” said Halbleib. “Thanks to the Belters and the league for allowing me to be one of the voices.”
The CornBelters beat writer from the Pantagraph, Reinhardt is receiving his second Newspaper Writer of the Year award.
“I am deeply honored to be selected for this award. I have always enjoyed working with the entire Normal CornBelters organization and the Frontier League staff,” said Reinhardt.
