First of all it was great to see everyone together hanging out eating some great food. Thanks to everyone that went above and beyond with their dishes!
On one of the the nicest days of the summer I had the opportunity to address some great kids and parents on some of the things we got the see this summer on and off the field. Being the only legion program with a "minor league" system we have given a lot of kids from our recruiting area a chance to play some great baseball. Congratulations to all the players for their committment and hard work throughout the summer. I am proud of each and every player.
With each post season comes some reflection...... this was tough for me this year because I had to say goodbye to some players that have been very successful....... some of them I've known for over 6 years...... So to Sean Burns, Mickey Merola, Curtis White and Stephan Paul..... its been fun..... see you around.... do us proud by taking what you've learned and applying it to the next level of baseball and to life beyond high school.
See everyone in the off-season....... the most important season of them all! Fall Ball rosters are posted and stay tuned for upcoming Booster Events and the Fall Meeting Date. Also, please join me in thanking Jeff Barton and Kathy Peet for joining Barb Dusablon and Jerri Burns as the leaders of the Boosters.
Below is a list of Post Season Award Winners.... Congratulations!
Senior Cannons
MVP- Bryan Johnson
Rookie of the Year- Jeremy Peet
Gold Glove- Mickey Merola
Silver Slugger- Sean Burns
Cy Young- AJ Dusablon
Coaches Awards- Kris Cauchon
Dedicated Service Award- Doug Cauchon
Dedicated Service Award- Tim and Tina White
Booster Appreciation Award- Bob Wheel
Junior Cannons
Most Improved Player Award: Bradon Cross
Most Improved Player Award: Justin Bara
Coaches Award: Kyle Bodenstein
D League
MVP- Thomas Vaux
MVP- Jared Cayia
Gold Glove- Colin Burns
Cy Young- Matt Ravey
Coaches Award- Jeff Sutherland
Coaches Award- Tyler Richland
Dedicated Service Award- Jerri Burns
Monday, August 13, 2007
Provost End of Season Remarks
What a ride this year has been! My apologies for not being with you today for our post-season banquet. This day marks a historic occasion– my children attending their first official concert of a band we have followed as a family for some time. We purchased the tickets for this event over three months ago and I decided today, after a long baseball season from mid March to August I should be with my family for the trip. I'll be watching my children today more than the band that much is for certain…
Working in this summer program with its players and supporting cast, while a rather difficult commute, was more icing on the cake of a fine baseball year. This last week marks a historic and controversial event in Major League Baseball that should be mentioned here today. Since I can remember I have worn the number 44 to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Henry Aaron.
The consistency of Aaron's work on the field are ten fold more remarkable to me with the understanding that he endured intense bigotry along the way,especially when he neared Ruth's seemingly untouchable record of 715 home runs.
Speaking softly, eloquently and inspirationally, Aaron outclassed the critics and bigots and took his place in history.Aaron's accomplishments as a player, as an ambassador for baseball and humanitarian are unappreciated in my opinion by most. One read throughhis plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame will tell you his efforts as a player. We were once again issued a reminder of his leadership off the field this last Tuesday.
I was watching the Red Sox game vs the team formerly know as the Anahiem Angels… when I heard that Barry Bonds hit career home run number 756. In my own defiance I decided not to tune over to the celebration in San Francisco but changed my mind when I heard thatHenry Aaron had sent along a message for the occasion. The message from Aaron read:"It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination. Throughout the past century, the home run has held aspecial place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement. My hope today,as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams."
Once again, the consummate gentleman, Aaron dealt eloquently with a sore and controversial moment in history and sent a message to therest of major league baseball – a message to us all again.It would have been easy for Aaron to be bitter, speak out rashly in the media, even to scorn Bonds and Major League Baseball publicly over the last few months. Aaron once again rose above such foul behavior. Aaron spoke softly and articulately, placing trust in the game itself, the institution of baseball and the people to request and understand the truth.Henry Aaron is a leader and in his words and actions it is easy to see a higher purpose, a more sophisticated understanding of how noble we should all aspire to be… to rise above controversy and be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Aaron decided to be an active participant, despite the compromised stance of the institution of Major League baseball itself and conduct himself with dignity –continuing to work toward a more sophisticated goal, none less than inspiring others. It's easy to criticize and scorn publicly, but professionals work toward finding solutions. It's important to know that how you handle adversity is as important as how you handle success. Perhaps even more so.
On a day when I was saddened that Bonds broke Aaron's record I discovered renewed pride in my childhood hero.
Major League Baseball continues to fail us by avoiding the discovery of truth and producing clear statements and policies around performance enhancing drugs. Ticket prices continue to rise and shutout working class families. Game broadcasts in mid-day are riddled with Viagra commercials, alcohol and CSI investigations for the simple justification that it produces more revenue.
There is no doubt that it takes tremendous skill to hit a baseball,especially on the clip that Bonds has over the last seven years. Watching Bonds hit home runs, especially with so few quality pitches to hit in a game is a marvel. However, if the performance enhancing scandal is true, then in my opinion the new record is a sham. The countless players who posted these goals to be broken, who woke up aching from the grind of 162 regular season games and travel know how tough it is to compete as a mere mortal. Especially when competing atsuch a high level over the age of 36. My personal fear is that this is another example where money has again tainted the integrity of the game, perhaps our society for the justification of entertainment.
In his public response on the night Bonds broke his record, Henry Aaron is a once again a teacher to me. His continued efforts and actions remind me to seek higher goals, to seek out a more noble end and to carve such a path with my actions, in fact to be more consistent in my positive efforts year to year. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
As these events unfold, it all it makes our work here in youth baseball all the more important. We pride ourselves in our baseball family here in this Cannons program, in the well being of our athletes and in the quality of our play. Instruction, truth, hard work, care and determination lead us toenjoy one of the most noble human endeavors – to play the finest of games as part of a team, take care of each other and enjoy the company of friends. Time, as we've once again discovered by the arrival ofanother post season banquet, is quite fleeting.
To our departing players, our newest batch of alumni. May you rest easy that you have had the most stellar of opportunities in this Cannons program over these last years. You may now continue your efforts in baseball to play, officiate, or to coach at whatever levels your desire to work and learn carry you toward. The quality work done here should also prove an inspiration that your goals can be reached and that they can and should be done so with integrity. You may also rest easier knowing you are part of a baseball family, and that even though you have moved on and that we are all still here to help you.
In the words of Henry Aaron himself, "My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams."Be well, stay in touch, and commit yourself and your talents to your dreams. We'll all be the better for it.
Stay tuned. Same Bat time, same Bat channel. Batman out.
Working in this summer program with its players and supporting cast, while a rather difficult commute, was more icing on the cake of a fine baseball year. This last week marks a historic and controversial event in Major League Baseball that should be mentioned here today. Since I can remember I have worn the number 44 to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of Henry Aaron.
The consistency of Aaron's work on the field are ten fold more remarkable to me with the understanding that he endured intense bigotry along the way,especially when he neared Ruth's seemingly untouchable record of 715 home runs.
Speaking softly, eloquently and inspirationally, Aaron outclassed the critics and bigots and took his place in history.Aaron's accomplishments as a player, as an ambassador for baseball and humanitarian are unappreciated in my opinion by most. One read throughhis plaque in the Baseball Hall of Fame will tell you his efforts as a player. We were once again issued a reminder of his leadership off the field this last Tuesday.
I was watching the Red Sox game vs the team formerly know as the Anahiem Angels… when I heard that Barry Bonds hit career home run number 756. In my own defiance I decided not to tune over to the celebration in San Francisco but changed my mind when I heard thatHenry Aaron had sent along a message for the occasion. The message from Aaron read:"It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination. Throughout the past century, the home run has held aspecial place in baseball and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement. My hope today,as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams."
Once again, the consummate gentleman, Aaron dealt eloquently with a sore and controversial moment in history and sent a message to therest of major league baseball – a message to us all again.It would have been easy for Aaron to be bitter, speak out rashly in the media, even to scorn Bonds and Major League Baseball publicly over the last few months. Aaron once again rose above such foul behavior. Aaron spoke softly and articulately, placing trust in the game itself, the institution of baseball and the people to request and understand the truth.Henry Aaron is a leader and in his words and actions it is easy to see a higher purpose, a more sophisticated understanding of how noble we should all aspire to be… to rise above controversy and be part of the solution, not part of the problem. Aaron decided to be an active participant, despite the compromised stance of the institution of Major League baseball itself and conduct himself with dignity –continuing to work toward a more sophisticated goal, none less than inspiring others. It's easy to criticize and scorn publicly, but professionals work toward finding solutions. It's important to know that how you handle adversity is as important as how you handle success. Perhaps even more so.
On a day when I was saddened that Bonds broke Aaron's record I discovered renewed pride in my childhood hero.
Major League Baseball continues to fail us by avoiding the discovery of truth and producing clear statements and policies around performance enhancing drugs. Ticket prices continue to rise and shutout working class families. Game broadcasts in mid-day are riddled with Viagra commercials, alcohol and CSI investigations for the simple justification that it produces more revenue.
There is no doubt that it takes tremendous skill to hit a baseball,especially on the clip that Bonds has over the last seven years. Watching Bonds hit home runs, especially with so few quality pitches to hit in a game is a marvel. However, if the performance enhancing scandal is true, then in my opinion the new record is a sham. The countless players who posted these goals to be broken, who woke up aching from the grind of 162 regular season games and travel know how tough it is to compete as a mere mortal. Especially when competing atsuch a high level over the age of 36. My personal fear is that this is another example where money has again tainted the integrity of the game, perhaps our society for the justification of entertainment.
In his public response on the night Bonds broke his record, Henry Aaron is a once again a teacher to me. His continued efforts and actions remind me to seek higher goals, to seek out a more noble end and to carve such a path with my actions, in fact to be more consistent in my positive efforts year to year. Be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
As these events unfold, it all it makes our work here in youth baseball all the more important. We pride ourselves in our baseball family here in this Cannons program, in the well being of our athletes and in the quality of our play. Instruction, truth, hard work, care and determination lead us toenjoy one of the most noble human endeavors – to play the finest of games as part of a team, take care of each other and enjoy the company of friends. Time, as we've once again discovered by the arrival ofanother post season banquet, is quite fleeting.
To our departing players, our newest batch of alumni. May you rest easy that you have had the most stellar of opportunities in this Cannons program over these last years. You may now continue your efforts in baseball to play, officiate, or to coach at whatever levels your desire to work and learn carry you toward. The quality work done here should also prove an inspiration that your goals can be reached and that they can and should be done so with integrity. You may also rest easier knowing you are part of a baseball family, and that even though you have moved on and that we are all still here to help you.
In the words of Henry Aaron himself, "My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams."Be well, stay in touch, and commit yourself and your talents to your dreams. We'll all be the better for it.
Stay tuned. Same Bat time, same Bat channel. Batman out.
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