Wisconsin State League 2018 Award Winners Announced

The Wisconsin State Baseball League announced this evening the recipients of the WSL Most Valuable Player, WSL Most Valuable Pitcher, WSL Rookie of the Year and WSL Manager of the Year awards for the 2018 season. Winners are determined by a vote of League general managers and personnel.

WSL Most Valuable Player: Ryan Tuntland, Lombard Orioles

WSL Most Valuable Pitcher: Jason Bunton, Kenosha Kings

WSL Rookie of the Year: Hunter Staniske, De Pere Dodgers

WSL Manager of the Year: Jeff Vukovich, Lombard Orioles

Tuntland (West Virginia University alum) is the second Oriole in a row to be named the League’s Most Valuable Player. Tuntland ran away with the MVP vote. He hit .551 in the WSL season, with five home runs, 33 RBI and 35 runs scored. The former San Francisco Giants draft pick also bosted a .953 fielding percentage.

Bunton (Marian University alum), was named Most Valuable Pitcher for the second consecutive season after posting a 0.94 ERA in nine games for the Kings. He finished the season with 43 strikeouts in 48 innings, while allowing only 36 hits and walking 10. He went 5-2.

Staniske (UW-Oshkosh), hit .427 in his debut campaign, batting in 19 and knocking out 12 extra-base hits, including three home runs for the Dodgers. He also had a .964 fielding percentage.

Vukovich takes home his 16th WSL Manager of the Year honor, including his fourth straight. Vukovich guided the League champion Orioles to their 22nd overall WSL Championship. The Orioles have earned at least a share of the championship every season since 2004. In 2006, they finished in a three-way tie with the Kenosha Kings and Eau Claire Cavaliers. The Orioles had one of the best seasons’s in WSL history in 2018, going 27-1, finishing 11.0 games ahead of second place Kenosha.