Sports

Written By Nick Zulovich

Voters who cast their choices for this year’s sports Maggy Award winners chose the Durham Bulls yet again as their favorite Local Baseball Team. The reasoning behind the selection this time had a little extra emphasis since the Bulls proved that they were truly the best team in Triple-A Baseball.

This past season, Durham not only claimed its third International League Championship since 2002, but the Bulls also won their first Triple-A National Championship. Durham defeated Memphis with a dramatic finish in the 11th inning during a single, winner-take-all affair.

Since the Durham franchise became one that competes on the Triple-A level of minor league baseball 12 years ago, the Bulls have qualified for the playoffs nine times, secured eight division championships and advanced to the league championship series seven times.

Earning honorable mention among local baseball teams were a pair of familiar clubs.

The UNC-Chapel Hill baseball team again advanced to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb. Dustin Ackley and Alex White, future top picks in the Major League Baseball Draft, led the Tar Heels to 48 victories.

N.C. State’s baseball team struggled a bit on the diamond last year but remained quite popular with Maggy Award voters. The Wolfpack brought in more than 1,200 fans for several of its games at Doak Field, including those against rivals Clemson and East Carolina.

UNC-Chapel Hill and N.C. State each fared well when voters were asked to pick their favorite college basketball and football teams.

The Tar Heels took top honors again as Best College Basketball Team. Led by Tyler Hansbrough — who finished his career as the leading scorer ever in the Atlantic Coast Conference — UNC-Chapel Hill capped last season with another national championship. The performance allowed the Tar Heels to eclipse their nearby rivals for this honor, N.C. State and Duke.

Meanwhile the Wolfpack rebounded to claim the award for Best College Football Team. N.C. State struggled a bit this season on the gridiron, but the team finished with a flourish as the Wolfpack defeated UNC in Raleigh on Thanksgiving weekend. The Tar Heels finished second in voting for Best College Football Team followed by a team that’s enjoyed great success in the North Carolina mountains, Appalachian State.

Bringing home his second national championship in men’s basketball since coming back to Chapel Hill helped Roy Williams secure the nod again as Best College Coach. Maggy Award voters tapped Williams over Mike Krzyzewski, Duke’s successful men’s basketball coach, and Tom O’Brien, the head coach of N.C. State’s football team.

The top finishers for Best Play-by-Play Announcer consisted of a familiar group. However, topping the charts again for the fifth time in a row was Woody Durham, the voice of UNC-Chapel Hill men’s basketball and football.

Finishing behind Durham was the Carolina Hurricanes’ Chuck Kaiton, the only play-by-play radio announcer the hockey franchise has ever had. Also receiving honorable mention was Gary Hahn, N.C. State’s leading radio broadcaster for football and men’s basketball.