'Hawks dominate league awards

By ED HARBOUR
Valley Press Staff Writer

On Wednesday, the league announced its annual All-Star selections and the league's Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Manager of the Year and Pitcher of the Year.

The JetHawks placed four players on the 13-member All-Star team - four of the eight position players - more than any club, and took three of the individual honors.

Lancaster's left fielder Juan Silvestre was named the league's MVP, Mark Parent the Manager of the Year and second baseman Willie Bloomquist the Rookie of the Year. San Bernardino pitcher Carlos Garcia was tabbed the Pitcher of the Year.

The writers, scorekeepers and broadcasters in the league vote on the awards. Before this year no JetHawk had received any individual honors.

Silvestre and Bloomquist were also named to the All-Star team, Silvestre as one of three outfielders and Bloomquist as the second baseman. Terrmel Sledge received one of the two remaining outfield spots and Bo Robinson received the nod at third base.

Silvestre's numbers are well above anyone else in MVP contention. Through play Tuesday, he led the league with 29 homers and 130 runs batted in while batting .304 in 123 games. In a released statement, the league said that Silvestre, Parent and Garcia "won by substantial margins over their nearest competitors."

Silvestre didn't expect his award, but sees it as the result of his hard work and dedication.

"I knew that this was the year I had to (produce)," Silvestre said in a mix of English and Spanish. "This is my fourth year and knew it was time to show what I could do.

"I've worked on my defense and waiting for my pitch at the plate. I'm very, very happy (to get the award)."

Parent picked up his award in his first job as a manager. He has guided the JetHawks to the best record in the league, 86-50, and a berth in the second round of the Cal League playoffs.

"I got my award because of the job my players did for me this year," Parent said. "I don't do anything more than anyone else, it's just my players did a very good job out there."

His players felt he was deserving of the award.

"Mark's hard nosed and gets his players to play hard everyday," Robinson said. "That's all you can ask from a manager."

Earlier this week, Parent expressed his desire to move on next season and not return to the Cal League.

"I'm going to see what (Seattle) offers me after the season," Parent said. "I've said I'm not coming back to Lancaster and I won't go to (Class-AA) New Haven, it's just too far from my family."

In the Rookie of Year voting, Bloomquist finished two votes ahead of Sledge.

The Rookie of the Year is chosen from players who are in their first full season of Class-A ball.

Bloomquist played in 64 games for Lancaster before being promoted to Class-AAA Tacoma on July 17.

He hit .379 in that time and left as the league's batting leader. Since then, he has fallen off the leaders list, without enough plate appearances to remain qualified. Sledge took over as the leader with a .339 mark.

Sledge's season ended on Monday with what is believed to be a tear in his left shoulder.

"Willie was by far the best second baseman in the league this year," Parent said, "and for those guys to be one, two in the Rookie of the Year voting is incredible. What it shows is that the Mariners have some prospects, that their minor league system is working."

The four JetHawks on the AllStar team are the most ever for the club. Three JetHawks made the team in 1998, Adonis Harrison, Cirilo Cruz and Brendan Kingman.

Parent felt Robinson's selection at third was due to his dedication at the position this year.

"Bo's done a lot of stuff away from the ballpark to get better," Parent said. "He's taken aerobics classes and other stuff and I'm glad they recognized what he's done on the field but he's also worked hard away from it."

Said Robinson: "You try to be the best in your position wherever you are. It feels good right now.

"Learning to play the position everyday was the biggest reason I was here, to get better defensively."

Baseball America named Robinson the top player in the Seattle organization last year and the best defensive third baseman in the Cal League earlier this season.

Five other JetHawks received votes and honorable mention recognition - pitchers Jeff Heaverlo and Brandon Parker, catcher Scott Maynard, utility man Craig Kuzmic and shortstop Antonio Perez.

Kuzmic was the most glaring omission from the first team list. The JetHawks' do-all utility man is in the top five of five offensive categories that include home runs (fifth-19), RBI (third-102), triples (third-10) and runs scored (first100).

Uploaded August 31, 2000