Baseball Canada Program Coordinator Kelsey McIntosh returned to his native province as Baseball PEI held its annual awards dinner at Credit Union Place in Summerside. The former Executive Director of Baseball PEI was on hand to speak about the merits of the Rally Cap program and to participate in the awards ceremony.
Two PEI associations, Stratford and West Prince Minor Baseball, were awarded plaques as their associations became RBI approved. The Summerside Peewee AAA team was also given a Baseball Canada award to commemorate their run to the Gold Medal at the Peewee Atlantics where they hosted the event.
The evening was used to recognize some of the top players, teams and volunteers from the 2010 season which also included the presentation of the ADL/Sport PEI Certificates of Achievement.
The following awards recap is courtesy of Nick Murray from Sport PEI.
Members of the Charlottetown Gaudet’s Auto Body Islanders were big winners on the night, with the combination of Allison and Andrew Macdonald winning the coaching, and senior male player of the year, respectively.
Allison was recognized for his outstanding leadership in the Islanders’ first season in the New Brunswick Senior Baseball League, in which he was named the Coach of the Year. A veteran coach who has skippered at all levels in the Baseball PEI system, Allison produced a talented team that made the play-off semi-finals following an 18-12 regular season record, and more importantly played an entertaining brand of baseball that drew large crowds and significantly raised the profile of competitive senior ball in the province.
Andrew Macdonald, the team’s short stop, enjoyed an outstanding season. Displaying excellent range and sure hands, he was named the League’s top defensive player, and all-star shortstop. In addition, Andrew also had a tremendous year at the plate, hitting .404 and earning both League MVP and rookie of the year honours.
Baseball PEI president Don LeClair made a special presentation to the Islanders, in recognition of their excellent season.
The evening was also productive for the Summerside and Area association. Mike Cameron was named the top administrator, recognizing not only his contribution through the years but this past season, where he co-chaired the very successful Eastern Canadian Pee Wee Championships. He has served as the Summerside president for the past eight years and has seen the association grow and prosper under his leadership.
Matthew Barlow won the association’s second award on the evening, being named junior male player of the year for leading his team, the Summerside Pee Wee AAA Prodigy Sport Chevy’s, to both provincial and Atlantic championships.
At the Atlantics, Matthew batted .636 for the tournament and was the player of the game for both the semi, and the final, in which he also recorded pitching saves in each game. A fine short-stop and a pitcher with great control – just 14 walks in 50 innings pitched at the provincial level – Matthew was struck out only five times in 125 plate appearances. He had a one-hitter against Sherwood, and also helped his team win tournaments in Fredericton and Cole Harbour.
Rounding off a fine night for the Summerside association, Taylor Albert was named official of the year. A young man with a great love of the game, he displays confidence and good decision-making, as well as fine game and people management skills.
The Morell Chevies were named team of the year following another great year in the Kings County Baseball League.
The team finished the 23 game schedule with 20 wins and just three losses, before capturing their fourth consecutive and eighth league championship, in the past ten years.
The Chevies success was based on an ability to score runs at any point in the batting order, and a dominant pitching staff which at one point recorded five consecutive shut-outs during the season.
For more information on Baseball PEI and its programs contact Glen Flood at 902-368-4262 or visit the website at www.baseballpei.ca …To find out more about how your association can be RBI approved, please click here.
