Crim named MVP, then hits walkoff

| August 30, 2019 1:00 AM

SPOKANE — Thursday was a big day for Blaine Crim.

Crim, who was named Northwest League Most Valuable Player earlier in the day, hit a walk-off single with nobody out in the ninth inning to send the Spokane Indians to a 2-1 win over the Everett AquaSox in Northwest League baseball in front of 5,019 at Avista Stadium.

Spokane (43-29, 21-13 second half) leads the North Division by three games with four remaining over Tri-City. Spokane begins a series against Tri-City on Saturday in Pasco.

Everett is 34-38, 16-18.

Spokane and Everett conclude the three-game series tonight at 6:30.

Crim follows up Curtis Terry’s MVP award from 2018, making it the first time the Indians have won consecutive MVP awards since 1989-1990 when Dave Staton and Matt Mieske won the award.

First-year Spokane manager Kenny Hook was named Northwest League Manager of the Year. Hook has led Spokane to a 43-29 overall record and a first-half Northwest League North Division Championship. The Indians are on pace for their most wins since 2008 (51), the last year they won the league championship.