TIM Kennelly has further established himself as one of the state’s finest baseballers after he became the first man to win the Australian Baseball League’s highest honour twice.
The Perth Heat veteran scooped his second Helms Award after a stellar campaign in which he was a driving force in the Heat’s surge to the finals.
Kennelly finished the season with a staggering batting average of .338 to go with six home runs and 24 RBIs.
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READ NOWHe led the league in runs scored (38, the equal most alongside teammate Tristan Gray) and led the Heat in runs scored (38).
Kennelly shared the honour with Adelaide pitcher Markus Solbach after they finished in equal first place in voting.
It was the first time in league history the award for the league’s most valuable player has been shared.
His second Helm’s Award adds to an already swelling swag of trophies this season, which includes the Players’ Choice MVP, League Batting Champion Award and South-West Division Fans’ Choice Player of the Year.
Kennelly said he was humbled to win the award given the league’s vast amount of talent.
“There were a number of other standout candidates this season,” he said.
“I played a slightly different role this season in the leadoff spot – trying to score runs rather than drive them in.
“Because I’m not playing affiliated baseball anymore, the ABL is what I play for.”
For the second time in his illustrious career, Perth Heat veteran Tim Kennelly has been named the Brut Australian Baseball League’s Helms Award winner after a stellar campaign.