Reps. Sak, Hart, Kooiman, Steil, Murphy, Richardville, Plakas, O'Neil, Anderson, Bieda, Brandenburg, Condino, Ehardt, Garfield, Gieleghem, Hood, Hopgood, Milosch, Pappageorge, Rivet, Sheltrown, Shulman, Spade, Stallworth, Tabor, Vagnozzi, Van Regenmorter, Waters, Wojno, Accavitti, Adamini, Byrum, Caul, Clack, Dennis, DeRossett, Elkins, Farrah, Gleason, Huizenga, Jamnick, Koetje, Kolb, Lipsey, Rocca, Stakoe, Tobocman and Phillips offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 317.

            A resolution honoring the West Michigan Whitecaps for winning the 2004 Midwest League Championship.  

            Whereas, It is a great privilege and honor to salute the West Michigan Whitecaps on winning the 2004 Midwest League Championship.  The Whitecaps won the title with a 4-2 win over the Kane County Cougars in Game 5 of the Championship Series on Sunday, September 19, 2004; and

Whereas, The 2004 victory is the third Midwest League Championship captured by the Whitecaps; and

Whereas, The Whitecaps have a successful history and a commitment to their community. Their mission is to provide affordable family entertainment to all of West Michigan; and

            Whereas, The Whitecaps are a staple in communities throughout West Michigan. We feel a sense of duty and gratitude for all the fans who have supported the team and made it one of the premier sports franchises in the country; and

Whereas, The Whitecaps became Grand Rapids' first professional sports team to win a championship when they brought home the Midwest Team Championship in 1996 and again in 1998; and

            Whereas, In December of 1999, Baseball America bestowed one of its highest honors on the Whitecaps, naming it the Class A Organization of the Decade.  In addition, the 1997 Whitecaps were named the Third-Best Minor League Team of the Decade; and

Whereas, The West Michigan Whitecaps had an overall record of 69-70 this season; and

Whereas, The Whitecaps came charging into the playoffs after earning a spot on the last day of the regular season, which was sparked by an astonishing 24-6 record in August for a 40-30 second-half record and the Eastern Division Championship; and

Whereas, The West Michigan Whitecaps used a 2-1 series win over Lansing, a 2-0 sweep of South Bend, and a 3-2 win over Kane County to earn their third league championship in the 11-year history of the team and their first since 1998. The win came in the first Game 5 of the team's playoff history; and

            Whereas, The Whitecaps team players to be honored are Andy Baldwin, Eulogio Delacruz, Chris Homer, Cristhian Martinez, Damien Myers, Troy Pickford, Jermy Rodriguez, Brian Rogers, Kenon Ronz, Brian Santo, Chris Steinborn, Jordan Tata, Anthony Tomey, Virgil Vasquez, Daniel Zell, Andrew Graham, Danilo Sanchez, Alex Trezza, Richard Burgos, Nate Doyle, Juan Francia, Troy Giarratano, Kelly Hunt, Kody Kirkland, Juan Llama, Nick McIntyre, Eric Rodland, Vincent Blue, Bo Flowers, Jason Knoedler, Garth McKinney, Wilton Reynolds and Luis Sabino; and

            Whereas, The Whitecaps Manager, Matt Walbeck, Hitting Coach Tony Jaramillo, Pitching Coach, A.J. Sager, and Athletic Trainer, Chris Vernon are to be honored as well; now, therefore, be it 

             Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body honor the West Michigan Whitecaps for winning the 2004 Midwest League Championship.