Longoria named league MVP; Mason top pitcher

The Biscuits carried home some hefty hardware today.

Former Biscuits third baseman Evan Longoria won the Southern League's most valuable player award and Chris Mason was named the league's top pitcher.

Longoria was promoted to Class AAA Durham on Aug. 1, but still ranks among the Southern League leaders in several categories. At the time of his promotion, the 21-year-old led the league with 76 RBIs and 78 runs scored and was tied for the league lead with 21 home runs. He's still fifth with a .307 average, tied for third in homers, fifth in RBIs and fourth in runs scored. He's also first in slugging percentage and fourth in on-base percentage.

Longoria is the second Biscuit to win Southern League MVP honors. Outfielder Delmon Young won in 2005.

Mason ranks first in the league in wins and ERA, plus is among the top five in strikeouts. He's 15-4 with a 2.53 ERA. His ERA is about 1 1/2 runs better than the league average. Mason hasn't gone more than two starts without a victory this season and the Biscuits are 22-5 in his starts with 10 wins in a row.

Montgomery, which has won a franchise-record 11 straight games, had three other players named to the postseason All-Star team: catcher John Jaso, outfielder Fernando Perez and relief pitcher Dale Thayer.

Huntsville's Don Money, whose team is close to clinching its third straight half-season pennant, was named the top manager.

The postseason All-Star team is based on a vote of managers, radio broadcasters and newspaper writers from around the league.

The full team ...
Catcher: John Jaso, Montgomery
First base: Javier Brito, Mobile
Second base: Emilio Bonifacio, Mobile
Third base: Evan Longoria, Montgomery
Shortstop: Chin-Lung Hu, Jacksonville

Outfielders: Charlton Jimerson, West Tenn; Brendan Katin, Huntsville; Fernando Perez, Montgomery; Justin Upton, Mobile
DH: Lee Mitchell, Carolina
Utility: Wilkin Castillo, Mobile
Best hustler: Carl Loadenthal, Mississippi

Right-handed pitcher: Chris Mason, Montgomery
Left-handed pitcher: Gio Gonzalez, Birmingham
Relief pitcher: Dale Thayer, Montgomery

MVP: Longoria
Top pitcher: Mason
Manager of the Year: Don Money, Huntsville