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Loggers general manager Chris Goodell presented Melton’s father, Ernie Melton, with the award before the third inning. Melton’s La Crosse and Evansville teammates Wade Kapteyn and Andy Pascoe displayed the banner that will hang outside the grandstand honoring Melton’s MVP season.
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Loggers Andy Pascoe (left) and Wade Kapteyn hold a banner with injured teammate Derek Melton’s photo on it during the team MVP in the third inning Monday night at Copeland Park.
PETER THOMSON photo
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“I hope to someday walk back into this stadium with Derek and show him this banner,” Ernie Melton said during the presentation ceremony.
Melton, 21, injured three vertebrae in his neck while diving into the Mississippi River at Pettibone Beach. He underwent surgery two days later. An update released by Gundersen Lutheran through Melton’s family on Aug. 6 stated Melton was in stable condition and starting rehabilitation.
Melton put together one of the best offensive seasons in Loggers history. The junior from the University of Evansville led the team in batting average (.309), RBI (45), slugging percentage (.500) and on-base percentage (.424) and tied center fielder Cory Vaughn for most home runs (eight) while playing in 56 games this summer. Melton was a South Division All-Star.
“To say he was an intense competitor is an understatement,” Goodell said.
Shortstop Randy Rundgren was named the team’s Gold Glove Award winner during a pre-game ceremony. Rundgren, a sophomore from Sacramento City College who is headed to Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) in the fall, had a .939 fielding percentage and was second in the league with 263 total chances and third with 29 double plays.
The team also said goodbye to juniors Justin Toole, Derek Helenihi and Kevin Zalnis. The Loggers have 22 players on the active roster who are eligible to return in 2009.
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