Phillips, Burke, Tempel take South Penn League 2018 Awards

The 2018 South Penn League Individual Award Winners were announced Monday after a vote of the league managers in attendence at the year end meeting.

Mark Phillips of the Hanover Raiders was named 2018 SPL Most Valuable Player. Phillips batted .377 and led the league in home runs (8) and runs batted in (28). He also ranked among the top 10 hitters in hits, runs scored, walks, and slugging percentage. Cashtown's Robert Rohrbaugh and Biglerville's Travis Byers finished tied for second in the vote.

After winning a share of the award a year ago, Hanover pitcher Andrew Burke was named the league's Most Outstanding Pitcher in 2018. Burke finished with a 4-1 regular season record, with a 1.35 ERA and 39 strikeouts. Cashtown's Chase King finished second in the voting, with New Oxford teammates Anthony Lippy and Alex Emlet tying for third.

The Most Oustanding Young Player award went to Michael Tempel of Cashtown. Tempel led the league in hits (38), stolen bases (15), and total bases (54), and finished in the top 10 in multiple other categories. His .463 batting average was third best in the league. Littlestown's Trent Copenhaver finished second in the balloting and New Oxford's Brady Topper was third.

The league sportsmanship award went to the Cashtown Pirates.