Kelly Wiens of Kleefeld and Tyson Plett of Mitchell were recognized by Baseball Manitoba for their outstanding work on the ball diamond this past summer during the association's 2021 Award Luncheon Saturday afternoon in Winnipeg.
Wiens, who guided the Carillon Sultans 13U AAA team to the Winnipeg Baseball Association championship, was named Baseball Manitoba's Grassroots Coach of the Year.
"Being noticed like that and obviously for people to take the time to nominate you, it's just very humbling and I'm very honoured to win this award," said Wiens shortly after the conclusion of the luncheon. "It's so fun to be on the field and around those kids and watch them develop a passion for the game. It's a great sport."
It was a memorable season for the Sultans who became the first team from outside Winnipeg to have their name on the trophy.
"Everybody played a part," said Wiens. "I got the trophy at home on my mantle. I sit there some mornings and have my morning coffee and look at it and it just takes you back to the summer and different plays that different kids made to get us to where we did. A remarkable summer."
"Coaching at the community level and coaching at the AAA levels, it's different," noted Wiens. "You got kids that have a little bit more of a competitive spirt and want to take it a little bit more serious and develop their skills and it's fun. Carillon has done a great job from (co-president) Louis Cote all the way down to other coaches that not just help the kids but help other coaches as well. Many coaches have helped me and drills and how to get my points across to the kids. We just have a great region and great leadership."
The Grassroots Coach of the Year, who also spent the summer coaching the 13U A baseball team in his hometown of Kleefeld, wasn't even sure if he'd be able to lend a hand in 2021.
"It's been a bit of a rollercoaster with health," explained Wiens. "When Louis approached me, I had just found out that I had been diagnosed with cancer. As we were putting the team together, I wasn't quite sure I could coach. Then once we got the team put together, we started asking assistant coaches and I can't say enough about Keith Hooper, Barry Penner and Mike Reimer who helped out immensely. And I want to thank Rawlings baseball buckets because they've put padded seats on them and there were many times I'd carry that around the field to grab a seat. It was a great season and those guys deserve a portion of this Coach of the Year Award just like Tyler Plett, Mark Banman and Travis Doerksen who were my helpers in Kleefeld."
Kelly Wiens' speech after receiving Baseball Manitoba's Grassroots Coach of the Year Award
Tyson Plett was the recipient of the 2021 Derrick Dubell Grassroots Umpire of the Year award.
"It was a bit of a surprise to be honest," said Plett. "I was hardly even aware there was awards because I wasn't super connected in all the Baseball Manitoba stuff. I feel really honoured after four years of basically community service. I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't just for the community."
Plett's career calling balls and strikes and runners safe or out, started four years ago when his hockey coach Kevin Plett, who runs minor baseball in Mitchell, was looking for umpires.
"I never played baseball," Plett said. "I watched on television and Kevin knew I was a hockey referee so he said, 'Hey Tyson, you want to ump baseball this year because we need more umpires.' Here I am now with an award for umpiring."
When asked if he had a favourite age group he looked forward to umpiring for, Plett was quick to mention the WABA champion Carillon Sultans.
"I really like the 13U AAA team. That's a fun job. I know a couple of the kids and their parent and they play good baseball and they have fun."
Plett also understands the importance of recruiting new umpires.
"Without umpires, we can't have baseball. I umped a lot of games and I'm sure all the other umpires umped a lot of games. We barely have enough to cover all the games. If we can get more umpires it would alleviate the stress off of us. I was doing three games a week in addition to full time work. It was quite a schedule. If we can get more umpires it would be awesome."
Clayton Dreger asked Carillon Minor Baseball Co-President Louis Cote to comment on Carillon being named Baseball Manitoba's 2021 Region of the Year
2021 Baseball Manitoba Award Recipients
Derrick Dubell Grassroots Umpire of the Year: Tyson Plett (Mitchell)
Larry Nicholls Umpire Award of Merit: Dave Forde (Winnipeg/Carillon)
13U Player of the Year: Logan Patterson (Winnipeg South)
15U Player of the Year: Jack Lussier (Bonivital)
18U Player of the Year: Donavan Collier (Winnipeg South)
21U Player of the Year: Tyler Smith (Elmwood)
Female Player of the Year: Payton McNish (Rivers)
Volunteer of the Year: Tony Staruch (Winnipeg South)
Grassroots Coach of the Year: Kelly Wiens (Kleefeld)
High Performance Coach of the Year: Jeff Bouchard (Winnipeg South)
Grassroots Team of the Year: 15U AA Bonivital White Sox
High Performance Team of the Year Minor: 18U AAA Winnipeg South Wolves
High Performance Team of the Year Major: Elmwood Giants Junior AAA
Honour Society Inductees: Gord Sawatzky (Altona), Conley Kehler (Altona), John Kroeker Stonewall, Wes Penner (Winnipeg South) & Fred Shipley (Balmoral)
Baseball Manitoba Region of the Year: Carillon
photos courtesy Patti Hacault
videos courtesy Baseball Manitoba
Mon, May 20, 5:30 PM
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