Last week the 2015 Canora Minor Baseball Association season officially concluded. Uniforms and equipment were turned in and put into storage for the next season.
A special thank you goes Minor ball season has offi cially concluded out to all the coaches, assistant coaches and managers “for all their hard work and time,” said Michelle
Hembling, the association’s vice-president.
It takes a lot of work behind the scenes to enable the young players to be members of teams and to develop their baseball skills, she said. “I would like to thank the parents for all the travel time, score keeping and all you do for our teams.
“I would like to thank all the volunteers for all their help on Canora Minor Ball Day (June 7). This was a very successful year.” Hembling also personally thanked her fellow members on the Canora Minor Baseball Association executive for their volunteer time and hard work. “I truly appreciate all the work you have done.
The season wrapped up with two major donations being formally made, Hembling said. She thanked Dallas Harrison and Richardson Pioneer for purchasing team uniforms for the peewee
team and the Canora Agricultural Society for donating $2,500 to help pay for repairing the batting cage.
On June 24, the peewees wrapped up their 1-8- 2 baseball season with a game in which the parents played the kids.
“Fun was had all around even though the parents squeezed out a win against the kids,” said Ally Rock, one of the coaches.
Prior to the game, Coaches Rock and Willy Olynyk took the time to present some year-end awards.
There was a tie between Samantha Krotenko and Hailey Yaremko for the most-improved player award, said Rock.
“It was both girls’ first season playing baseball and neither had much experience in the sport. They stood by each other throughout the entire season and their confidence in themselves
with baseball grew immensely.
They both scored runs and made plays which brought together the loudest of cheers from the coaches, players and crowd.” The most-inspirational player award was given to Carson Barteski, she said.
“Carson was a joy to coach; his enthusiasm for the game and eagerness to learn made him stand out as a leader on the team. He always had a smile on his face and consistently cheered on his team through the tough season.
Carson never missed a practice or game, even when the practices were optional.”
The most-valuable player award was given to Grady Wolkowski, Rock said. “Grady was our team’s `Mr. Everything.’ He played three positions especially well: catcher, fi rst base and pitcher. We could always count on Grady for a clutch hit, a great defensive play, or to stop a passing ball. His positive attitude and willingness to do whatever it took to help the team made him stand out as our MVP.”
Rock went on thank all the kids and parents who made this season possible. “It took dedication from everyone involved to have a peewee baseball team this year after not having one
for so many years. We hope to see everyone out again next year!”
