Sept. 1, 2008

SPOKANE, Wash. - Former Gonzaga University third baseman Darin Holcomb was named the South Atlantic League's 2008 Most Valuable Player following his outstanding season playing for the Asheville Tourists, the single-A minor league affiliate of the Colorado Rockies in Asheville, North Carolina. Holcomb was also placed on the Post-Season All Star team.

Managers, general managers, sportswriters and radio broadcasters throughout the South Atlantic league voted Holcomb the league's best after he hit .314 with 153 hits, 13 home runs and 93 RBIs in 131 games. Amongst the league leaders, Holcomb's numbers placed him third in RBIs, fifth in average and ninth in homers.

Holcomb was drafted in the 12th round by Colorado in June of 2007 following a stellar career playing for Gonzaga head coach Mark Machtolf. The Spokane native earned All-West Coast Conference honors following his third and final season for the Bulldogs in which he posted team-highs in hitting (.369), hits (86), doubles (17), runs scored (43), and a .402 batting average in conference play. Holcomb was also a two-time All-West Coast Conference second team honoree during his freshman and sophomore seasons before signing a professional contract following his junior season.

There are 10 former Bulldogs playing throughout baseball's professional ranks including Jason Bay and Mike Redmond who are currently playing for the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins, respectively.