Staten Island, NY- Aaron Rifkin was named NY-Penn League Most Valuable Player and Juan Camacho and Jason Arnold were also given All-Star Honors for the 2001 season, the NY-Penn League announced.
The Yankees have had three players on the All-Star Team every year since its inaugural season in 1999. This year is the first year that a Staten Island Yankee has been named league MVP.
The three Baby Bombers were joined by 13 other players from six other NY-Penn League teams to make up the 16-player All-Star Team. Players from Staten Island, Brooklyn and Williamsport earned a combined 10 spots on the team, with the Crosscutters having four team members named, followed by Staten Island and Brooklyn (three each).
Rifkin finished the season with a .318 batting average and figured in almost every NY-Penn League batting category. He was fifth in batting, tied for third in homeruns (10), tied for second in RBI (49), tied for fourth in hits (78), tied for third in triples (5), and was second in extra base hits (34). His slugging percentage of .559 was good for second in the league. The first baseman was named TOPPS Player of the Month for August after batting .408 with 42 hits (11 2B, 3 3B, 4 HR), 26 RBI and 18 runs scored.
Camacho was also a solid presence at the plate. The third baseman batted .277 for the season and was the teamÃs iron man, playing in 72 of the 76 regular season games. Camacho was first on the team and in the league with 51 RBI, second on the team with 76 hits, and tied for first on the team with 10 homeruns (which was also good for third in the league).
Arnold finished the season with a 7-2 record and a 1.50 ERA (good for third in the league). The right hander was considered the ace of the staff until his season was cut short in early August when his arm was diagnosed with tendonitis. The highlight of his season came on July 27th when he pitched a complete game no hitter against the Vermont Expos. He was one walk away from being perfect, as he also struck out 15 in that game (a new SI Yankee single game high). His performance earned him TOPPS Player of the Month honors for July.
2001 NY-Penn League All-Star Team
1B Aaron Rifkin, Staten Island
2B Juan Francia, Oneonta
3B Juan Camacho, Staten Island
SS Tony Pena, Jamestown
IFF Edgar Gonzalez, Hudson Valley
OF Chris Duffy, Williamsport
OF Frank Corr, Brooklyn
OF Angel Pagan, Brooklyn
OF Todd Self, Pittsfield
C Michael Rabelo, Oneonta
C Chris Shelton, Williamsport
RHP Jason Arnold, Staten Island
RHP Ian Quendo, Williamsport
LHP Ross Peeples, Brooklyn
LHP Brian Rodaway, Pittsfield
DH Walter Young, Williamsport
MVP Aaron Rifkin, Staten Island
