Keith Lupton of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs was named the independent Atlantic League’s General Manager of the Year, while Bethpage Ballpark, home of the Long Island Ducks, was named Park of the Year.
Bethpage Ballpark boasted the best attendance in the league for a 12th consecutive season and was the site for four playoff games as well. In July, the Ducks welcomed their five millionth fan through the ballpark gates, becoming the fastest professional sports franchise to reach that mark with a stadium of their size (capacity 6,002). Last month, the Ducks posted their 600th all-time sell out crowd at Bethpage Ballpark. The award is the first such award in club annals.
Under Lupton’s watch, the Blue Crabs went 65-57 in 2011 while garnering the league’s wild-card berth with a win over Bridgeport in a one-game playoff on September 20th. In addition to his role as Southern Maryland’s General Manager, Lupton is also the Executive Vice President for Baseball Operations of Southern Maryland’s ownership group Opening Day Partners.
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