The cloud of controversy over the end to Canberra Cavalry's season has uncovered its silver lining.
Cavalry utility Brian Burgamy has been named the Australian Baseball League's Silver Slugger as the best offensive player in the competition.
It strengthens Burgamy's claims to the ABL's most valuable player award, to be announced at the Baseball Australia Diamond Awards in Sydney on February 25.
After a stellar season, Burgamy is one of three players in the running for the MVP, with PerthHeat duo Tim Kennelly and Warwick Saupold.
Burgamy led the league with his brilliant batting average of .409, scored most runs (41) and was walked more times than any other hitter (34).
The 30-year-old free agent was third in the league for home runs (12) and fifth for runs batted in (34).
He was clearly the heart and soul of the Cavalry side and as such he is a standout from the Heat pair.
While both outfielder Kennelly and starting pitcher Saupold were among the league's best, the Heat was littered with stars and could easily cope without either player.
Canberra, on the other hand, needed Burgamy to perform and that's what he did, day in, day out.
Adding further credence to Burgamy's claim to be MVP is his versatility in defence.
He played almost every position in the infield and was moved to the outfield at one stage to cover a minor injury crisis.
Burgamy plays for the Indians in the ACT Baseball competition.
Cavalry missed out on this year's ABL play-offs in controversial fashion after it lost its final game of the season to the Melbourne Aces.
The loss meant it finished with the same number of wins as Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane but the ABL's interpretation of the rules meant Canberra finished last, with Adelaide and Sydney going on to play the finals.
Both Kennelly and Saupold will be important cogs in the Heat's title defence when they face Melbourne in a best-of-three-game championship series in Perth starting on Friday.
.gif)
