Westfield Babe Ruth League President Dan Welch presents the league’s Most Valuable Player award to Chris Sullivan. (Submitted photo)
COURTESY OF WESTFIELD BABE RUTH BASEBALL
To complete the 2013 very successful Babe Ruth season, the league held their annual awards presentation night on Saturday, October 19th.
Jackets were presented in recognition to the regular season champions and also to the Amanti Cup and Dan Welch City Cup playoff champions. In the 13/14 division the regular the regular season champion was Kiwanis Club. Manager Chris Baran presented the awards and recognized the team’s success in 2013. The Amanti Cup champion for 2013 was Cortina Tile coming in as the number 5 seed and putting the right combination of grit and determination together to complete playoff sweep as the champion. Manager Don Murray presented the team their awards.
In the 15/16 division Sons of Erin completed the regular season in first place and continue their dominance to win the Dan Welch City Cup. Manager Ron Sullivan presented the players their awards.
The three league tournament teams were also recognized for their success in the Babe Ruth tournaments. The 14 and 15 year old teams won their respective District playoffs games and entered the state tournaments with high expectations. While not winning the State title both teams represented Westfield well. The 13 year old tournament team was recognized with engraved wood baseball bats honoring them for their District and State Tournament Championships and playing in the New England Regional Tournament in Manchester NH. Manager John Bonini presented the 13 year old with their awards.
Also presented were the league Scott McClenna and League MVP awards. These awards have been in place for Westfield Babe Ruth for more than 40 years. The Scott McClenna award is given to a player that has been involved in the league for four seasons and is presented to a player that represents the qualities that Scott McClenna displayed. (the player who epitomizes what Scott McClenna stood for: sportsmanship, perseverance, ability, team work and attitude). The 2013 Scott McClenna awarded to Connor Sullivan.
The 4 Year MVP Award was presented by League President Dan Welch to Chris Sullivan. In making the presentation Welch noted: But with his play over their 4 years has proven to all the Managers that his play, sportsmanship and team leadership skills were invaluable to his team’s success. Not always winning! There were many games, despite the score where he could be heard encouraging his teammates! Always wanting to win but not letting losing get in the way of good sportsmanship.
This player has been an outstanding contributor to the league over his playing years. He has been a positive influence with his teammates and has worked hard to be at his best both on and off the field. He has been a positive role model for everyone in the league. Whether it was pitching in a key situation, closing out a game or being ready to make a play in the field he was always ready!
At the conclusion of the night Dan Welch recognized John Zayac for his six years of volunteer service to the league as the Field Administrator. While Bullens Field gets used for more than 100 games per season the field has never look better. John was at the field many days for an hour or more before going to work to ensure the mound and grounds were in shape for the games scheduled that day.
