The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) presented four neighborhood park sports coaches and their teams and four individual youth with 2014 Spring and Summer Sportsmanship Awards on September 17, at the Board of Commissioners meeting.
The 2014 Spring/Summer Youth Sportsmanship Awards were presented to the coaches and athletes of the following teams: Audubon Park-Gymnastics, Lyndale Farmstead-Track & Field, Pearl-12U Baseball, and Logan Storm-14U Softball.
The teams were chosen from among 136 MPRB spring and summer gymnastics, baseball, softball and track and field youth sports teams for demonstrating exemplary sportsmanship throughout the spring and summer 2014 seasons.
Each winning team was recognized for its players’ outstanding display of positive attitudes, commitment, dedication, overcoming adversity and persistence.
Coaches were recognized for being positive role models, loyal to the program, emphasizing team work, demonstrating strong work ethic and passion and engaging players and parents to have fun.
The Sandy Peterson Most Improved Player Award for Girls Softball was presented to one girl from each age division. The award, consisting of a special trophy and jersey, is funded through a new memorial fund honoring, and in memory of, Peterson, a 30 year MPRB employee. Peterson ultimately became the first female director of the MPRB’s Youth Sports Department. It was Peterson’s dedication and commitment to MPRB girls’ athletics that helped paved the way for today’s young female athletes and earned her a number of awards for her outstanding work along the way. Players were nominated by their coaches and nominations were selected by a committee consisting of Peterson’s MPRB colleagues.
The following athletes were awarded the Sandy Peterson Most Improved Player Award: Ava Morrison-Lynnhurst Park 10U, Leah Thompson-Bottineau Park 12U, and Grace Smith-Lynnhurst Park 14U.
2014 Youth Gymnastics Sportsmanship Award
Audubon Park
Coach: Cassandra Meyering
2014 Youth Track and Field Sportsmanship Award
Lyndale Farmstead
Coach: Carleton Perry
2014 Youth Baseball Sportsmanship Award
Pearl 12U
Coach: Richard Mattox
2014 Youth Softball Sportsmanship Award
Logan Storm 14U
Coach: Carmen Bentley
2013 Youth Softball Sandy Peterson Most Improved Player Awards
Ava Morrison – Lynnhurst Park 10U
Leah Thompson – Bottineau Park 12U
Grace Smith – Lynnhurst Park 14U
Ava Morrison – Lynnhurst Park 10U
“Ava joined our team and started playing softball for the first time. She was pretty shy at the beginning but clearly wanted to learn the game. She consistently participated in practices and games, while always taking instruction well and practicing until she got it right. She was perhaps the most focused player I have ever worked with. She always paid attention to instruction, despite any distractions by her teammates. She was always aware of what her role was, whether it was hitting, running the bases, fielding or pitching. Ava always gave 100% and was a great team player! Clearly a leader, on and off the field – I hope to see her continue playing the game!” – Coach Penny Cierzan
Leah Thompson – Bottineau Park 12U
“Leah is no stranger to a softball field but the improvement we have seen from last year to this year is definitely worth mentioning. We made Leah our lead-off batter because she is our tone setter and could be counted on to put the ball in play and lead the way for the rest of the team. She is a smart base runner and we know that 90% of the time, if Leah is on base, she is coming home! In the past, Leah has struggled with throwing but this year, her throws are level, fast and accurate. She has no problem making the throw from catcher’s position to second or from third to first. Above all else, her attitude is what stands out – never argumentative and willing to play any position. She has a maturity level not generally seen at this age. To us, Leah embodies the spirit of being a true team player which is the type of player every coach dreams of.” – Coaches Linda K. Stebor, Kristi Carlson and Marc Thompson
Grace Smith – Lynnhurst Park 14U
Grace Smith had not played softball before. At the beginning, her skills were raw. But she had a new glove, was eager to learn, came to every practice, and worked very hard. Between practices, Grace worked extensively with her grandfather on her fielding, throwing, and batting. Her improvement was rapid and breathtaking, as illustrated by several plays. One was when she ran down a grounder, whirled, and threw the base runner out at first. She could hardly contain her excitement. Over the course of the season, her foot speed increased significantly. When I asked her why she ran so fast from first to second on one play, she replied with a huge smile, ‘I want to win!’ Grace was a wonderful addition to our team. Her infectious enthusiasm was contagious. And her stunning progress over the course of the season is a tribute to her hard work and determination.” – Coach Tom Fraser
Youth sports awards are presented by the MPRB athletics staff for fall/winter sports and spring/summer sports.
More than 6,000 youth participate in sports programs and countless organized groups and other neighborhood youth use MPRB sports facilities and athletic fields. Annually, more than 900 volunteer coaches devote their time and leadership to MPRB youth sports. With 182 park properties totaling nearly 6,732 acres of land and water, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board provides places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather, celebrate, contemplate, and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community, and the environment.
For more information about MPRB youth sports, visit the MPRB youth sports page or contact your local recreation center.
Contact
Dawn Sommers, Communications and Marketing Manager
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Office: 612-230-6407
dsommers@minneapolisparks.org