Aug. 8, 2008
BOURNE, Ma. – – Notre Dame rising junior and Falmouth Commodore outfielder A.J. Pollock was named Cape Cod League Pat Sorenti Most Valuable Player Thursday. Pollock, just the second player ever from the BIG EAST Conference to capture the award, joins a list that includes current MLB players Evan Longoria, Mike Fontenot, Carlos Pena, Darin Erstad and Jason Varitek.
Pollock (Hebron, Conn.) ranks in the top five of the league in just about every offensive category. He is first in hits (61), first in doubles (15), first in slugging percentage (.556), second in batting average (.377), second in extra-base hits (20), third in runs scored (35), tied for third in triples (2) and fourth in on-base percentage (.455).
Pollock has played in 40 games for Falmouth and leads the team in at-bats (162), runs, hits, doubles, total bases (90), extra-base hits, slugging percentage, on-base percentage and stolen bases (11). He also ranks second in batting average (.377), home runs (4) and RBI (25). Pollock has committed just one error while patrolling centerfield.
Pollock is the second Notre Dame player to ever capture Cape Cod League MVP. Dick Licini captured the award in 1968 as a first baseman for the Bourne Braves. Pollock is also the second player ever from the BIG EAST Conference to be awarded MVP. John Morris of Seton Hall earned the honor in 1981.
With just one regular season remaining, Falmouth (23-20-1) needs a victory over Bourne (23-20-1) to secure the fourth and final playoff spot. Orleans (25-17-2), Harwich (24-20-0) and Cotuit (24-18-2) have already qualified.
Pat Sorenti Award Most Valuable Player Award
Year Player Position Team School Drafted By2008 A.J. Pollock OF Falmouth Notre Dame --2007 Conor Gillaspie 3B Falmouth Wichita St San Francisco2006 Justin Smoak 1B Cotuit South Carolina Texas2005 Evan Longoria IF Chatham Long Beach St. Tampa Bay2004 Daniel Carte OF Falmouth Winthrop Colorado2003 J.C. Holt OF Brewster LSU Atlanta2002 Pete Stonard OF Cotuit Alabama San Diego2001 Matt Murton OF Wareham Georgia Tech Boston2000 Mike Fontenot 2B Wareham LSU Baltimore1999 Lance Niekro 3B Orleans Florida Southern San Francisco1998 Bobby Kielty OF Brewster Mississippi Minnesota1997 Carlos Pena 1B Wareham Northeastern Texas1996 Kevin Nicholson SS Wareham Stetson San Diego1995 Josh Paul OF Cotuit Vanderbilt Chicago (AL)1994 Darin Erstad OF Falmouth Nebraska California1993 Jason Varitek C Hyannis Georgia Tech Seattle1992 Rick Ellstrom 3B Cotuit Miami San Diego1991 Brent Killen 1B Y-D Florida Detroit1990 Mark Smith OF Wareham USC Baltimore1989 Kurt Olson 1B Y-D Indiana Philadelphia1988 David Staton 1B Brewster Orange Coast CC San Diego1987 Mick Morandini SS Y-D Indiana Philadelphia1986 Scott Hemond OF/C Harwich South Florida Oakland1985 Greg Vaughn OF Cotuit Sacramento CC Milwaukee1984 Joey Cora 2B Chatham Vanderbilt San Diego1983 Greg Lotzar OF Cotuit Central Michigan Boston1982 Terry Steinbach 1B Cotuit Minnesota Oakland1981 John Morris OF Wareham Seton Hall Kansas City1980 Ron Darling OF/P Cotuit Yale Texas1979 Ronnie Perry 3B Hyannis Holy Cross Chicago (AL)1978 Bill Schroeder C Hyannis Clemson Milwaukee1977 Steve Balboni 1B Y-D Eckerd NY (AL)1976 Nat Showalter OF Hyannis Mississippi State NY (AL)1975 Paul O'Neill 3B Cotuit Boston College San Diego1974 Phil Welch P Wareham Providence Boston1973 Steve Newell OF Wareham UMass Montreal1972 Brad Linden 1B Orleans UConn1971 Joe Barkauskas C Wareham Lafayette NY (AL)1970 Jim Prete 2B Wareham UNM Highlands Washington1969 Jim Norris OF Orleans Maryland Cleveland1968 Dick Licini 1B Bourne Notre Dame Boston1967 Thurman Munson C Chatham Kent State NY (AL)1966 Ed Drucker 1B Harwich Southern Conn.1965 Ron Bugbee 3B Sagamore UConn1964 Ken Huebner OF/P Cotuit Florida Southern Philadelphia