FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 17, 2000
Contact: Bryan Dolgin, Director of Media & Public Relations
843-918-6016
The Envelope Please:
1999 Pelicans Earn Braves Awards
MYRTLE BEACH, SC – – – The Atlanta Braves named the recipients of their minor league system’s four annual awards. Three of the recipients were members of the 1999 Myrtle Beach Pelicans championship team. Brian Snitker was named the Braves Minor League Manager of the Year. Marcus Giles, second baseman, was given the Hank Aaron Award. Derrick Lewis, starting right handed pitcher, earned the Bill Lucas Award. Jimmy Osting, of the Macon Braves, picked up the Phil Niekro Award. The awards were announced at the recent Atlanta Braves 400 Club Dinner in Atlanta, GA.
Snitker earned Minor League Manager of the Year award for the second consecutive season. In 1999, Snitker’s Myrtle Beach Pelicans won the Carolina League championship. His team had the league’s best record of 83-and-63 (including the playoffs). In the Braves minor league system, Snitker’s squad had the best regular season record of 79-and-60. In 1998, Snitker won the award as the manager of the Macon Braves in the Class-A South Atlantic League. Snitker will manage the Pelicans in the 2000 season.
Giles won the Hank Aaron Award for the second consecutive season. The award is given to the top offensive performer in the Braves minor league system. Giles was the Carolina League’s Most Valuable Player and all-star second baseman. He led the league and Braves minor league system with a .326 batting average. Giles led the Pelicans with 162 hits, 40 doubles, 73 RBI and 80 runs scored. In 1998, Giles earned the award with the Macon Braves by batting .326 with 37 home runs and 108 RBI. The Braves drafted Giles in the 53rd round pick of the 1996 June draft.
Lewis earned the Bill Lucas Award. It is presented to the organization’s minor league player that best represents the Braves both on and off the field. Lewis was in the Pelicans starting pitching rotation throughout the 1999 season, and he finished the season with an 8-and-3 record and an organizational/Carolina League low 2.40 Earned Run Average (ERA). The Braves drafted Lewis in the 20th round of the 1997 June draft. Jimmy Osting was the top pitcher in the Braves organization as he earned the Phil Niekro Award. If Osting does not make the jump to Double-A Greenville (SC) to start the season, scouting reports state he may become a member of the 2000 Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Osting, a left handed start for the Macon Braves in 1999, recorded the most wins (14), the third highest total in strikeouts (131) and fourth lowest ERA (2.88) in the organization. The Braves drafted Osting in the fourth round of the 1995 June draft.
All types of tickets (season, group, individual games, etc.) are on sale for the 2000 Myrtle Beach Pelicans season. The Pelicans open the season at home versus the Lynchburg Hillcats (Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate) on Thursday, April 6. For tickets and more information, please call 843-918-6000.
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL-Digital, WRAL-FM, Microspace, the North Carolina News Network, DTV Plus, Wolfpack Sports Marketing, and Capitol Sports Management in Raleigh, NC; WJZY-TV and WFVT-TV in Charlotte, NC; WILM-TV in Wilmington, NC; WRAZ-TV and the Durham Bulls Baseball Club in Durham, NC; and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans Baseball Club in Myrtle Beach, SC; Capitol Broadcasting Company also founded Local TV on Satellite in Raleigh, NC.
