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Lundi, le 13 novembre 2000

Version anglaise

Baseball Canada hands out awards in BC

KELOWNA (British Columbia) -- Baseball Canada honoured Adam Loewen, Dennis Springenatic and Ted Derpack at Baseball Canada's Annual Awards Banquet Saturday.

JUNIOR TEAM MVP
16 year-old, Adam Loewen of Surrey, BC received the Most Valuable Player Award for Baseball Canada's Junior National Team. Loewen, a starting pitcher, outfielder and designated hitter for Baseball Canada's Junior Team in 2000, performed at a level rarely seen by a player of his age.

Baseball Canada President, Ray Carter, presents Ron Rice with Baseball Canada's Special Recognition Award
At the plate, Loewen provided late inning heroics with an eighth inning RBI against Team USA, as Canada bettered the Americans to capture the 3 Nations Cup tournament in Thunder Bay, ON this past June. Loewen went on to hit .290 at the 2000 World Junior Championships in Edmonton.

Loewen's performance against the eventual World Champion South Koreans, was his highlight on the mound this summer. He pitched six shutout innings as Canada handed South Korea their only loss at the World Championships.

With two years of eligibility remaining, look for even bigger things from Adam at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD
British Columbia's Dennis Springenatic received Baseball Canada's Coach of the Year Award. Springenatic had a dream season in 2000, as the manager of the BC Premier League's Whalley Chiefs and Assistant Coach for Team BC.

His accomplishments included a Gold Medal at the Baseball Canada Cup in Stonewall, MB; a runner-up performance at the Babe Ruth World Series in Concord, New Hampshire and a championship title in the prestigious BC Premier Baseball League.

In addition to the team titles, two of Sprigenatic's players competed for Canada at the 2000 World Junior Championships. A former National Team member and NAIA College World Series Champion, Springenatic is rapidly becoming one of Canada's brightest coaching stars.

DICK WILLIS MEMORIAL AWARD
Ted Derpack was the recipient of the Dick Willis Memorial Award for excellence in umpiring. Derpack, involved with the Alberta Baseball Association, has increased umpire registration in Alberta at all levels and has reorganized and improved communication between umpires throughout the province.

Derpack has umpired four National Championships and two USA.B.A World Series. He just recently held the office as Umpire Supervisor for the 2000 Midget AAA's and Crew Chief at the 2000 Senior AAA's. As an official Baseball Canada Course Conductor, Derpack instructs all levels of provincial umpire clinics.

PROVINCE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Based on performances in championships at all levels, results in coaching certification programs, registration numbers and Honda Hit*Run*Throw events and participants, British Columbia was named the Province of the Year for 2000.