Courier-Post Staff

The Camden River

sharks, whose 71-54 overall record was the Atlantic League' s best, have won three of the league's four major postseason awards.

Starting pitcher Lincoln Mikkelsen, who pitched the Riversharks to their lone playoff win against the Bridgeport Bluefish, has been named the league's Pitcher of the Year.

Wayne Krenchicki of the Sharks was named Manager of the Year, while team general manager John Brandt was chosen Executive of the Year.

"It is a little bittersweet having lost in the playoffs on Thursday, but this certainly shows that we are doing a lot of the right things," Brandt said. "We know what a great job Wayne and Lincoln have done for this team, but it is good to know that the rest of the league is equally aware."

Brandt and Krenchicki led the Riversharks to significant increases on and off the baseball diamond. The team won 30 percent more games in 2002, its second season, than it had in 2001. It also attracted 30,000 more fans to Campbell's Field.

Mikkelsen finished the year with a 16-6 record and 3.32 ERA. He walked only 31 in 152 innings. Mikkelsen and Sharks closer Jimmy Williams were both named to the league's All- Star team.