The Islandian Times
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
Hellcat Donner Honored As TU Skipper of the Year
The Baseball Writers Association have picked Hartsdale's Zim Donner as the Tycobbian Union Manager of the Year. A year ago the Hellcats were wallowing in fifth place with a 72-82 record in the TU North Division, 14 games out of first place. This year Zim Donner got them on the right track and piloted them to the division pennant with an 88-66 mark, edging out the Oxford Red Caps and Fairfax Frogs by a game.
But the modest Donner doesn't take any credit for the success of the Hellcats. He told reporters, "It's the players that win ballgames. I look at this as an organizational award," Donner said, "but also an award that our entire staff should feel proud of."
Mel Poe, the veteran Hartsdale center field, said, "He won't admit it, but Zim was a huge part of the success we've had this year, but he would never say that."
He doesn't have to. For one day, at least, it's all about Donner.
The CEO of Pioneer Beer, the company that owns the Hellcats, told the press, "It's a culmination of the body of work he's put in here since the day he got here. He's so much more than just a manager. Zimmy's been a core member of the leadership team that's guided our club to this point."
Donner had some tough competition for the honor. He received 40 votes to 35 for Cape Coral's Huggy Miller, who finished second in the balloting. Miller's Hurricanes improved from seventh place to second this year in the South Division. A close third with 30 votes was Red Bluff's Mack Connery, who improved his Red Sox from sixth place to the top spot in the East Division. Fourth in the ranking with 10 votes was Hub Carlson of the North Hills Hawks. They rose from last place in the North up to the fifth spot in the standings. Coming in fifth and named on five ballots was Ford Whiteman, the skipper of the Denton City Redbirds. They climbed from seventh to third this season.
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