ANDY Prisco thought he’d never play again.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 49-year-old ruptured three ligaments in his left ankle during the second one-day game of the 2015-16 season, casting doubt over his decorated career.
But he made a spectacular return to competition this season as a damaging opening batsman – accruing 698 runs and two centuries – to claim the award.
“I was off work for a couple of months as well with it, it didn’t even look like I’d be playing again,” he told The Standard.
“I’ve got a bung knee as well, so I’ve got a bad knee and ankle in the opposite legs.
“When you’re getting to the age of 50 and you’re taking wickets and making nearly 700 runs, you’ve got to be happy with it.
“It’s been a good year. I only played the one game in division two this year, which is because we’ve got great depth at the club.”
His input as a bowler was also vital to Creek’s semi-final berth, as Prisco also claimed the division three bowling average at 10.87.
He was granted 23 votes to take out the win.
The police officer’s division three captain, Edward Evans, rounded out the bowling awards with 27 wickets.
Beaver Mark Evans was presented with the wicketkeeping award on the back of 10 dismissals.
Knowles claimed the division two crown on the back of a 36-wicket season with the Tigers. He pipped Brierly-Christ Church’s Dale Mitchell (17) and Jason Greer (15) to take out the top prize.
Knowles’ year yielded an unrivaled three bags of five wickets, with a season-best six-wicket haul also recorded against Nestles in round 10.
Meanwhile, West Warrnambool’s Michael Edmonds clocked 606 runs at an average of 43.29 to take out both the batting average and aggregate.
He will line up for the Panthers in their division two grand final hit-out with Russells Creek on Saturday.
Port Fairy’s Timothy Covey notched the division’s strongest bowling average – which came in at 5.06 – while Greer took out the bowling aggregate with 38 scalps.
Jamie Baulch was the most successful wicketkeeper in the grade with 28 dismissals.
Teenage prodigy Tommy Jackson walked away with the under 17 grade’s top average of 245. He was dismissed just once, in Woodford’s colts grand final triumph over Brierly-Christ Church.
Nestles counterpart Jacob Pope blasted 291 runs to emerge with the division’s batting aggregate.
Female star Rosie Wynd scored both the brand new Steph Townsend award and the under 17 bowling average, with a low total of 7.80.
Nestles’ Harrison Price (16 wickets) took out the bowling aggregate, while Zavier Mungean (14 dismissals) was the wicketkeeper of the year.