The International League today announced Bulls IF/OF Russ Canzler has been named the 2011 Most Valuable Player. Canzler is the fifth Durham Bull to win the award in the 14 years since the Bulls have been a member of the International League. He joins Dan Johnson (2010), Kevin Witt (2006), Toby Hall (2001) and Steve Cox (1999).

“It feels great. It’s definitely a little overwhelming. It’s one of those things you don’t imagine happening for yourself. I was fortunate enough to play with a good group of guys the entire year and stay healthy and it’s a real tribute to this organization to have the league MVP for two years in a row,” Canzler said.

The former 30th round draft pick had never played above the Double-A level before signing with Tampa Bay as a free agent this past offseason. Having seen significant time at third base, first base, left field, and right field, the versatile Canzler has made his biggest contributions for Durham at the plate. He is 4th in the International League with a .312 average to go along with 18 home runs and 79 RBI. His 61 extra-base hits, 77 runs scored, 241 total bases, and .533 slugging percentage are all tops in the IL.

In July, Canzler was elected as the starting third baseman for the IL at the Triple-A All-Star Game, where his three-run home run was the difference in the 3-0 contest. He is just the second IL player ever to win Top Star honors at the Triple-A All-Star Game and the League MVP award in the same season, following in the footsteps of another Durham Bull, Kevin Witt in 2006.

The last time the International League named a Most Valuable Player from the same team in consecutive years was in 1984 and 1985 when Scott Bradley and Dan Pasqua of Columbus were so honored.

GREENSBORO, NC –The Atlantic Coast Conference and its multi-media rightsholders announced Monday that they have agreed to a two-year extension with SiriusXM Satellite Radio to allow games from all of its 12 schools to be carried by both Sirius and XM Satellite Radio.

The agreement extends a relationship between the ACC and SiriusXM which dates back seven years, as the ACC was the first intercollegiate conference to have its games broadcast over satellite radio, beginning in 2004.

The agreement is also part of a larger contract reached between SiriusXM, IMG College and Learfield Sports which will make broadcasts from 81 college programs and 10 conferences available to Sirius/XM listeners across the country.

In all, four separate rightsholders manage the radio rights to ACC schools: IMG College (Boston College, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest); Learfield Sports (Clemson, North Carolina and Miami); CBS Collegiate Sports Properties (Maryland and Virginia); and Capital Broadcasting (NC State).

The agreement is good for both the 2011-12 and 2012-13 academic years.

In addition to the live play-by-play for ACC sports, SiriusXM will also carry weekly shows hosted by ACC head football and basketball coaches throughout the respective seasons on College Sports Nation, Sirius 91, XM 91, SiriusXM’s 24-hour college sports channel.

ACC Football games will be available this week, beginning on Thursday night with the Western Carolina at Georgia Tech (7:30 p.m.—XM-190, Sirius-211) and Wake Forest at Syracuse (8 p.m.—XM 191, Sirius 212) games.

The rest of this week’s schedule:
Sept. 3–Northwestern at Boston College, 12 pm (Sirius 91, XM 91)
Sept. 3–Appalachian State at Virginia Tech, 12:30 pm (XM 191, Sirius 212)

Sept. 3–Troy at Clemson, 3:30 pm (XM 136)
Sept. 3–Louisiana Monroe at Florida State, 3:30 pm (XM 193, Sirius 211)

Sept. 3–James Madison at North Carolina, 3:30 pm (XM 192, Sirius 213)
Sept. 3–Liberty at NC State, 6 pm (XM 190, Sirius 212)
Sept. 3–William & Mary at Virginia, 6 pm (XM 191, Sirius 131)

Sept. 3–Richmond at Duke, 7 pm (XM 192, Sirius 213)
Sept. 5–Miami at Maryland, 8 pm (Maryland, Sirius 91, XM 91); (Miami, Sirius 85, XM 85)

While the Durham Bulls likely will host playoff games, the last home game of the regular season is Tuesday while the Carolina Mudcats play at home five more times from Thursday, Sept. 1 to Monday, Sept. 5.

The Labor Day game, against Mississippi, starts at noon. To purchase tickets to one of the final Mudcats games, please click here.

The Bulls final game Tuesday against Gwinnett begins at 7:05 p.m. and tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

The Bulls have certainly had the better season as they are closing in on another title with a 77-57 first-place record while the Mudcats have a 50-82 combined record (Carolina plays two half seasons). The Mudcats have played better at home of late as they have gone 15-15 during the second half of the season.

This is the last season that the Mudcats will be Double-A baseball as the Reds organization moves out and the Indians organization moves in next season. The Class-A Kinston Indians become the Carolina Mudcats next season.

On Sunday, the Durham Bulls announced the winners of the 2011 Goodmon Awards. The Goodmon Awards recognize players for their contributions to the success of the team both on and off the field.

The 2011 Team Spirit Award winner is Bulls infielder Ray Olmedo. Ray was a Bull in 2009 and again this year, playing on the national championship team in 2009 and serving as an International League All-Star this season. His always upbeat personality keeps everyone loose in the clubhouse.

The 2011 Pitcher of the Year is right-hander Rob Delaney. Delaney has been one of the most reliable arms out of the Bulls bullpen, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.85 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 46 appearances.

The team MVP Community Service Award winner, and Fan Favorite is International League All-Star MVP, Russ Canzler. In his first season at the Triple-A level, Canzler has been one of the finest players in the league batting .313 with 18 home runs and 78 rbi. Canzler is also one of the first guys to sign up to visit local children’s hospitals to bring a bit of joy to sick children in the Triangle.

The second week of the high school football season brings potential bad weather as a result of Hurricane Irene. Here are 10 football games that are within driving distance in the Triangle area. Most games are at 7:30 p.m. You might want to check with local officials as some games start at 7. In bold below are the predicted winners. Last week my record was 7-4.

Athens Drive at Garner

Cary at Cardinal Gibbons

Chapel Hill at East Chapel Hill

Leesville Road at Green Hope

Middle Creek at Southern Durham

Durham Riverside at Apex

Rosewood at Wake Christian

Sanderson at Panther Creek

Southeast Raleigh at Broughton

Wake Forest Rolesville at East Wake

The regular season for high school football begins tonight for most teams. Here are 11 football games that are within driving distance in the Triangle area. Friday night’s weather is expected to be warm, near 80 degrees, with a 40 percent chance of rain or thunderstorms. Most games are at 7:30 p.m. You might want to check with local officials as some games start at 7. In bold below are the predicted winners. My record of predicting regular season games last year was 81 percent and my record for predicting playoff games was nearly 90 percent.

Athens Drive at Sanderson

Broughton at Cary

Northern Durham at Middle Creek

Panther Creek at Leesville Road

West Johnston at Fuquay-Varina

Clayton at Cardinal Gibbons

Durham Jordan at WF-Rolesville

Millbrook at Southeast Raleigh

Northern Vance at Ravenscroft

Durham Riverside at Wakefield

New Bern at Durham Hillside

Check the scores in the High School Football roundup on the left navigation bar.