2025 CCW Awards Voting

🏆 CCW 2025 Award Races: Breaking Down the Nominees

The 2025 CCW Fast Pitch season delivered another year of incredible performances, capped off by the Short Shorts winning the championship in a thrilling three-game series over the 8 Balls. But as the dust settles, it’s time for the league’s players to cast their votes in the CCW Awards, recognizing the top individual performances across the season. With a ranked-choice voting system (3 points for first, 2 for second, 1 for third), every ballot will matter in what promises to be some razor-thin races.
Here’s a look at the award categories, the nominees, and what sets them apart.

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🌟 Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Awarded to the league’s best all-around player, factoring in both pitching dominance and offensive impact.

• Myc Witty (Short Shorts)
  • Pitching: 0.41 ERA, 44 IP, 15.82 SO/9, 156 FIP
  • Hitting: .386/.442/.614, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 18 RC
  • The ace of the champions, Witty anchored the Shorts on the mound while adding consistent offensive production. His ability to dominate both ways makes him a complete candidate.
    
    
• Reid Werner (8 Balls)
  • Pitching: 1.50 ERA, 44 IP, 15.27 SO/9, 142 FIP
  • Hitting: .377/.429/.740, 9 HR, 19 RBI, 24 RC
  • A true workhorse, Werner nearly matched Witty inning for inning and provided lineup-anchoring on base and power at the plate. His power bat paired with elite pitching gives him a strong MVP case.
    
    
• Will Smithey (Moonshots)
  • Pitching: 1.02 ERA, 35.1 IP, 13.25 SO/9, 107 FIP
  • Hitting: .409/.435/1.015, 13 HR, 23 RBI, 29 RC
  • Smithey’s two-way numbers are becoming expected, but are still staggering. Leading his team offensively while being one of the toughest pitchers in the league, he’s a perfectly balanced MVP nominee.
    
    
    

💡 Storyline: Last year’s MVP race came down to one vote, and we expect this year to be just as close. It’s a true three-horse race, as the margins between these elite players are razor-thin. Voters will have to decide which facet of the game they value more highly when choosing. 

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🔥 Mike Speek Pitcher of the Year Award (Best Pitcher)
Dominance on the mound is the only thing that matters here, and 2025 was loaded with aces.

• Myc Witty (Short Shorts): 0.41 ERA, 44 IP, 156 FIP — a continued trend of dominance.
• Reid Werner (8 Balls): 1.50 ERA, 44 IP, 142 FIP — a top-of-the-league late-season and playoff run.
• Will Smithey (Moonshots): 1.02 ERA, 35.1 IP, 107 FIP — consistent, ace-level performance in all aspects of pitching.
• Brayden Scott (Yakkers): 0.22 ERA, 27.2 IP, 80 FIP — the rookie sensation barely allowed anything all year.
  
  

💡 Storyline: Witty has the edge statistically, but Scott’s video-game numbers in fewer innings and the proven workhorses (Werner, Smithey) make this a loaded ballot.

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💣 Yellow Slugger (Best Hitter)
The most feared bats in CCW, judged by raw offensive dominance.

• Brendan Dudas (Short Shorts): .446/.529/1.162, 15 HR, 32 RBI, 45 RC — the most balanced, sheet-stuffing statline across the board.
• Alex Gurtcheff (8 Balls): .356/.408/.944, 17 HR, 28 RBI, 34 RC — league-leading power bat, fueled by homeruns.
• Will Smithey (Moonshots): .409/.435/1.015, 13 HR, 23 RBI, 29 RC — absurd balance of average and slugging.
• Reid Werner (8 Balls): .377/.429/.740, 9 HR, 19 RBI, 24 RC — great all-around production, especially in the postseason.
• Cade Luker (Short Shorts): .397/.426/.931, 9 HR, 17 RBI, 23 RC — quietly resurgent, elite performance.
• Dylan Jones (Stampede): .386/.386/.857, 10 HR, 13 RBI, 23 RC — consistent all-around performance in fewer ABs.
  
  
  

💡 Storyline: Dudas has the statistical edge, but voters valuing the longball may swing Gurtcheff, and those valuing performance in a smaller sample size may prefer Smithey.

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🧢 Cody House Manager of the Year Award
Recognizing leadership, roster management, and success.

• Brendan Dudas (Short Shorts)
• Reid Werner (8 Balls)
• Cade Luker (Stampede)
• Will Smithey (Moonshots)
• Dylan Jones (Hounds)
• Rudy Lyon (Yakkers)
  
  
  

💡 Storyline: Dudas led his Shorts to their first title in nearly a decade, which may make him the favorite, but he did so with a roster that, admittedly, was the favorite entering the season. Werner, despite missing a few crucial weeks, saw his team outperform expectations and give the Shorts all they bargained for and thensome in the Final. Meanwhile, Luker got excellent pitching from a diverse cast, Smithey gracefully managed both veterans and newcomers, Jones led the team to admirable performance despite absence from their expected ace, and Lyon navigated multiple injuries and no-shows to keep the Yakkers in contention. 

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🧤 Golden Hands (Best Fielder)
Highlighting the defensive wizards who saved runs in the field.

• Austin Alles (Hounds)
• Brendan Dudas (Short Shorts)
• Tyler Gregory (Moonshots)
• Brayden Scott (Stampede)
  
  
  

💡 Storyline: Hard to quantify with stats, but each nominee made their presence felt defensively all season, and turned in jaw-dropping highlight-reel plays.

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🚀 Most Improved Player
From role players to breakout stars, this award honors year-to-year growth.

• Dalton Lewis (Yakkers): From 38th hitter in 2024 (0 RC) to 16th in 2025 (11 RC); 18th pitcher in ‘24 to 14th in ‘25.
• Tristan Dudas (Stampede): From 32nd hitter in 2024 (3 RC) to 22nd in 2025 (7 RC).
• Connor Young (Short Shorts): From 17th pitcher in 2024 (5 FIP) to 13th in 2025 (22 FIP).
• Alex Gurtcheff (8 Balls): From 8th hitter in 2024 (17 RC) to 2nd in 2025 (34 RC).
• Cody House (8 Balls): From 16th hitter in 2024 (8 RC) to 7th in 2025 (20 RC).
  
  
  

💡 Storyline: Gurtcheff’s leap into offensive stardom may grab attention immediately, but Lewis’s ascent on the mound and at the plate may prove to be equally deserving. Steady improvements from youngsters Tristan Dudas and Connor Young, and a resurgent campaign from veteran Cody House, land them in the running as deserving nominees, as well.

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🌟 Rookie of the Year
​The newcomers who made an instant impact in their first CCW season.

• Brayden Scott (Stampede): 0.22 ERA, 27.2 IP, 80 FIP — ridiculous dominance for a rookie.
• Nolan Karwoski (Moonshots): .256/.293/.538, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6 RC — a solid bat with key moments for his team.
  
  
  

💡 Storyline: Scott looks like the runaway favorite here, but Karwoski provided valuable offense for a contender.

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📝 Final Thoughts
The 2025 CCW season was defined by parity, breakout performances, and the Short Shorts’ championship run. Now, the attention turns to the awards ballots, where players will decide who stood out the most. With multiple categories coming down to a handful of votes in last year’s vote, this year’s awards ceremony promises to be just as dramatic as the action on the field.