Castro, Durkin earn top honors

Calgary shortstop Nelson Castro earned the Golden Baseball League's Player of the Year award, while Orange County pitcher Matt Durkin nabbed the top pitcher honor.
 
A long-time minor leaguer, the 33-year-old Castro played his fourth season as the starting shortstop for the Vipers, leading them to the league title this year. He led the league with a .410 batting average, .001 behind Desi Wilson's league record set in 2005. He also led the league in slugging (.646), triples (10), stolen bases (33) and hits (123). His 81 RBI and 80 runs were second, and his 11 home runs was the second most of his career.
 
Durkin went 11-4, leading the league in wins after mainly pitching out of the pen for the Flyers in 2008. His 3.88 ERA was eighth in the league, though only three of those pitchers started more than 15 games. Opponents hit .236 off of him, third lowest in the league.