Kentville Wildcats

Left-handed pitcher Jason Bailey of the Dartmouth Moosehead Dry is the 2005 Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League most valuable player. Bailey, who also plays the outfield for the Dry, had an exceptional season on the mound. He led the league in wins (8) and winning percentage (1.000), and ranked second in earned-run average (1.89), innings pitched (62) and strikeouts (62). Bailey also contributed with the bat, posting a .305 batting average, and tied for second in the league with 13 stolen bases. He is the first pitcher to win this award since 2000, when Craig Higgins of the Truro Bearcats was named league MVP. It is the first league MVP award for the 27-year-old Bailey, a member of the Dry since 1996. He is a four-time league all-star, and in nine seasons, all with Dartmouth, has compiled a career regular-season record of 55-11. Chris Salsman of the Kentville Wildcats and James MacPherson of the Truro Bearcats have been named co-winners of the league’s coach of the year award. Both first-year coaches enjoyed successful debuts. MacPherson piloted the Bearcats to a 15-11 record and a second-place finish in the regular season. Salsman guided the Wildcats to a 13-13 record, good for third place in the regular season. The league’s all-star team is as follows: Catcher - Luke Smith, Kentville Wildcats (.302 batting average, 5 home runs, 22 RBI). First base - Jamie Vallis, Dartmouth Moosehead Dry (.357 bating average, 8 home runs, 23 RBI). Second base - Jeff Chisholm, Truro Bearcats (.394 batting average, 10 home runs, 37 RBI - ranked in the top-five in the league in seven offensive categories). Third base - Adam Lucas, Halifax Pelham Canadians (.390 batting average, 6 home runs, 26 RBI). Shortstop (tie) - J.P. Wood, Truro Bearcats (.398 batting average, 27 RBI); Ian Lockhart, Kentville Wildcats (.371 batting average, 25 runs scored, 10 doubles). Designated hitter - Darren Doucette, Dartmouth Moosehead Dry (.469 batting average, 13 home runs, 46 RBI - won league’s triple crown). Outfield - Joel Irvine, Dartmouth Moosehead Dry (.365 batting average, 4 home runs, 36 RBI). Outfield - Mike Lockhart, Kentville Wildcats (.380 batting average, 5 home runs, 31 RBI). Outfield - Geoff MacLellan, Sydney Sooners (.408 batting average, led league with 25 stolen bases). Left-handed pitcher - Jason Bailey, Dartmouth Moosehead Dry (8-0, 1.89 ERA, 62 strikeouts in 62 innings). Right-handed pitcher - Craig Higgins, Truro Bearcats (7-1, 2.22 ERA, led league in strikeouts [82] and innings pitched [65]).