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Summary of Award Winners: 2011
Servus Cup: Awarded to the
Parkland Whitesox
Manager: Doug Jones
This is the first time that the Servus Cup is being
presented to the regular season pennant champions. The
Molson Cup had previously been presented but was retired in
2010 after having been in circulation since 1974. The
Whitesox clinched the pennant late in the 2011 regular
season after having staved off the surging Red Lions. The
Whitesox finished with a record of 16 wins and 4 losses.
They scored 112 runs (fourth among League clubs) while
allowing only 46 runs (least among League clubs).
Bob Kootenay Memorial Award: presented to the Manager of
the Year
Recipient: Ryan Rau, Westlock Red Lions
Ryan Rau is taking home his second consecutive Manager of
the Year Award in the NCABL. Always calm and reassuring
towards his players, Ryan displays the ultimate
characteristics of a sound Manager… his ability to mentor
and to develop young players combined with his respectful
and courteous demeanour on the field have positioned Ryan as
one of the most respected young Managers in the League
today. In a short period of time, Ryan has taken an
inexperienced group of young players from the Westlock area
and built a contender through dedicated practice and a
winning mentality. The Red Lions not only qualified for the
post-season after a three year absence, but put together one
of the longest regular season winning streaks which
catapulted them into a second place finish just one game shy
of the pennant.
Ryan Rau - Westlock Red Lions - 68 ballot points
Doug Jones - Parkland Whitesox (first runner-up) - 41 ballot
points
Randy Gregg - Edmonton Blackhawks (second runner-up) - 35
ballot points
Most Valuable Player of the Year: presented to Mark Trela
of the Edmonton Athletics
Mark Trela’s overall value as a pitcher cannot be
overstated. His value as a leader is perhaps less well
known. His ambassadorial role as a soft spoken
representative for the game of baseball and the NCABL is
perhaps even less well known. That Mark Trela is all of
these things is what makes him a worthy recipient of this
great award which recognizes ability, leadership,
commitment, and sportsmanship . Trela is not new to the
NCABL podium having previously garnered this very award in
consecutive seasons from 2006 through 2008. Mark returns
today to capture a well deserved 4th career MVP of the Year
Award after having logged a league high 74 innings pitched
while posting an incredible ERA of 1.04. Not totally content
with his performances on the bump, Trela went on to post
a.263 batting average on 23 plate appearances while
occasionally patrolling the outfield.
Most Valuable Player of the Year: Top Ten in the NCABL
for 2011
Mark Trela - Edmonton Athletics - 80 pts.
Josh Turner - Parkland Whitesox - 57 pts.
Trevor Miller - Westlock Red Lions - 48 pts.
Matt Kukovica - Edmonton Blackhawks - 37 pts.
Colin Vaughan - Sherwood Park Athletics - 35 pts.
Regan Hoet - Edmonton Blackhawks - 35 pts.
Alex Ponich - Edmonton Blackhawks - 26 pts.
Steve Ofrim - Camrose Axemen - 25 pts.
Mike Cote - Mayerthorpe Mets - 25 pts.
Blair Cowley - Legal Indians - 22 pts.
The NCABL’s top ten most valuable players of the year were
selected using a double balloting system conducted by League
Office with the cooperation of club management.
Dan Gerlach Memorial Award: presented to the most
promising junior player
Recipient: Padon Brenholen, Sherwood Park Athletics
Padon enjoyed a very strong season in the NCABL in 2011
while covering the infield at both shortstop and third base
for the Sherwood Park Athletics. Padon’s offensive skills
were instrumental in pushing the Athletics to within a
whisker of qualifying Sherwood Park for the post-season.
Padon vaulted himself into the coveted top twenty hitters
group by posting a .406 batting average which placed him
11th overall among NCABL players. Padon’s 26 regular season
RBI’s was second highest in the League behind Alex Ponich of
the Blackhawks. Along with being a base stealing threat,
Padon’s overall athletic ability has earned him the title of
most promising junior player in the NCABL for 2011.
Padon Brenholen - Sherwood Park Athletics - 68 pts.
Brett McElroy - Sherwood park Athletics - 32 pts.
Colin Vaughan - Sherwood Park Athletics - 25 pts.
Ken Schultz Memorial Award:
presented to a builder, promoter, or umpire whoselong term
contributions to baseball in North Central Alberta have
significantly impacted the sport of baseball
Recipient: Matt Payne now living in Calgary
This year marks only the second time since 1993 that the Ken
Schultz Memorial Award is being presented to an umpire. This
award, the most coveted in the NCABL, is presented to a
person whose long term contributions to the sport of
baseball have had a dramatic effect on the game in North
Central Alberta. It measures a person’s unwavering loyalty,
passion , commitment, and dedication to the game they love.
In nominating Matt Payne for this award, fellow umpire Matt
Becigneul underlined Mr. Payne’s unquestionable impact on
umpire development within the NCABL and amazing
communication skills both on and off the field. Matt Payne
was a core umpire who logged one of the heaviest workloads
in the NCABL over a ten year span and who was repeatedly
called upon by Managers to take care of business during
All-Star Games and the League Championship. Matt possesses a
disarming quality, wrote his nominator, that allows him to
diffuse potential conflict, earn respect, and make lasting
friendships all at the same time. Matt’s work on the field
reflected his knowledge of the game, his ability to focus,
and his consistent application of good judgment. Matt Payne
is a loyal NCABL supporter, recognizing the fact that this
League has provided many opportunities for growth and
development to many of this Province’s elite umpires. Matt
Payne has worked hard at raising the profile of the NCABL
throughout the province and most particularly within the
ranks of his provincial umpiring fraternity. Always open to
self-improvement in his chosen field of expertise, Matt
honed his skills by attending a professional umpiring school
in Florida
and returning home to the NCABL where he mentored young
aspiring officials within the NCABL’s Umpire Mentorship
Program. Tim Schultz was once again on hand to personally
congratulate Matt Payne and to present the trophy to Matt’s
nominator, Matt Becigneul, a fellow umpire and core umpire
within the NCABL.
NCABL Educational Grant :provided through the generous
support of our friends at Servus Credit Union
Presented to Brennan Nelson of the Sherwood Park Athletics
With an average age below 24 and an increasing emphasis on
player development, the NCABL has recently refashioned the
way it wishes to project itself. The NCABL will continue
striving to be the best little amateur baseball league in
Alberta but with the more important goal of using this great
sport as a medium for the promotion of educational pursuits
and the acquisition of leadership skills.
Many of our Managers and Governors are dedicated to this new
vision and are providing our young athletes with the example
along with the structure and discipline required to have
them develop into positive role models within society at
large. This vision has been shared and is being supported by
our friendly neighbours at Servus Credit Union to whom we
are grateful. In keeping with this new direction,
Commissioner Riopel was pleased to present Mr. Brennan
Nelson with the first ever NCABL Education Grant. Brennan
has just completed his second season in the NCABL with the
Sherwood Park Athletics and is currently enrolled in a four
year Bachelor of Science Degree at the University of
Alberta. Brennan’s baseball career and dedication to the
sport have taught him valuable lessons which continue to
assist him in achieving a future career in optometry. The
NCABL is confident that Brennan will carry the proud
distinction of having been an NCABL alumni well into his
professional career.
League Championship Series Most Valuable Player:
Josh Turner of the Parkland Whitesox
The Parkland Whitesox swept their Championship Semi-Final
Series in Westlock and the Championship Final Series in
Spruce Grove on the strength of Josh Turner’s strong opening
performances in each of those series. In his opening game of
the Championship, Turner pitched eight innings while
allowing but a single hit on his way to amassing 14
strikeouts against the Edmonton Athletics. The Whitesox won
that game by a score of 2-1. In his second appearance of the
Series, Turner threw another complete game, allowing only
one earned run on 6 hits. Turner recorded five strikeouts in
that game which the Whitesox went on to win 3-2 against the
Blackhawks.
Turner also contributed offensively whenever he was asked to
patrol the outfield for the Whitesox going three for seven
with four RBI’s. Turner’s steady presence in the Series and
command while on the hill helped to propel the Whitesox to
their third NCABL Championship over the past four seasons.
For his Series’ performance Josh Turner was chosen as the
Most Valuable Player in the 2011 League Championship Series.
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NCABL Spring Bi-Annual Meeting Highlights:
A. Franchise numbers have swelled to 1970 levels as the NCABL Board of Governors
granted admission to the Edmonton Jays.
B. The NCABL will be fielding eleven clubs this season: Camrose Axemen, Edmonton
Athletics, Edmonton Blackhawks, Edmonton Jays, Edmonton Warriors, Legal Indians,
Mayerthorpe Mets, Parkland Whitesox, Sherwood Park Athletics, Sturgeon Paladins,
and the Westlock Red Lions.
C. The Parkland Whitesox will be representing the NCABL in the Senior AAA
Provincial Championships to be held late in July.
D. The League will officially open its regular season on Sunday, May 8th, on
five fronts.
E. The NCABL will be establishing an overview committee prior to June 1st in
order to begin the global planning for the League’s 50th anniversary
celebrations which will be taking place throughout the 2017 season.
F. The 2011 All-Star Game, hosted by the Parkland Whitesox at Henry Singer Park,
will be played on July 19th, 2011.
Official Scoring Clinic:
An official list of all accredited scorers in the NCABL follows below. Please remember that to retain your
accreditation in the NCABL you must score a minimum of one regular season or post-season game in the year in which you obtained accreditation and continue to do so in all subsequent years without
interruption. Failure to maintain your active status with the NCABL will result in your having to re-certify yourself through attendance at another scoring clinic. Only one official scorer's name may appear on any one game sheet.
Regulations governing the use of official scorers in the NCABL:
A. Clubs must utilize accredited official scorers for all regular season games
to avoid penalties.
B. A scorer shall be accredited upon being certified following the completion of
a full course at an NCABL sponsored Official Scoring Clinic.
C. Accreditation shall remain in force providing that an official scorer has
scored a minimum of one regular or post-season NCABL game without interruption
beginning in the year of certification. Otherwise, re-certification is necessary
to receive accreditation.
D. Only one Official Scorer per game shall be so designated.
E. All official scorers shall occupy an off-field location and may not double as
managers, coaches, or players in any game be they accredited or otherwise.
F. Game summaries shall be computer driven and submitted electronically within
48 hours of game time by the Official Scorer to League Office and both club
Managers.
G. Hard copies of the official game sheet shall be mailed to League Office
within two days of game time by the Official Scorer.
H. Sponsoring clubs shall assume all of the liability for the failure of an
Official Scorer to meet any of the requirements stated above.
If you wish to inquire as to your status as an official scorer in the NCABL, please direct your inquiries to the Commissioner@ncabl.ab.ca
Lists of Accredited Scorers
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NCABL announces special
association with Servus Credit Union
After forty-three years, the Molson Cup, emblematic of pennant
supremacy in the NCABL has been retired. In its place, the new Servus Cup will
be officially unveiled during the League Championship semi-final series. The
League recently concluded a long term arrangement with the progressive banking
institution best known for its community roots and strong visionary spirit.
Commissioner Riopel was quoted as saying that, “ The credit union movement is
anchored in the principles of ethical investment practices which mirrors our
delivery of sport to youth. Our baseball programs are the stepping stones to
personal growth and development delivered by dedicated coaches who do an
excellent job of mentoring these young prospective athletes.” “We are indeed
very proud to be partnering with the people from Servus where we have personally
banked for our entire forty-four years of operation,” added the Commissioner.
The Servus Cup is being introduced into the NCABL at a time when the League is
enjoying a strong resurgence, particularly in the Edmonton and metro areas. The
League also disclosed that another important announcement related to their
sponsorship agreement with Servus would be forthcoming in a matter of weeks. |
