Jason Jeffery Wins MVP
After Huge Season
After Huge Season
Joe Horvath wins League Player of the Year, Jeremy
Hochstetler wins Tourney Player of the Year and Faron
Miller wins the Gold Glove Award at annual banquet
in Granger
Hochstetler wins Tourney Player of the Year and Faron
Miller wins the Gold Glove Award at annual banquet
in Granger
Granger, IN 12/11/2011
After a season that featured him batting over .800 in seven tournaments, including four batting over .900, Jason Jeffery picked up his first overall Street Kids Softball
Most Valuable Player award on Saturday evening during the 2011 SKS Awards Banquet at Tilted Kilt.
"I'm humbled," the soft spoken infielder said after the banquet. "I didn't even know what to say when I got up there. Everyone knows I am all about team; personal
awards are just little extras. We didn't accomplish what we wanted to do, but we had a great season and I do want to thank my teammates, the voters, the sponsors,
and TJ and Courtney for all they do. I am just so humbled right now."
Jeffery put the hard work in all winter long, spending several days a week in the gym along with several other players who were being trained by Mike Macellari at
Pinnacle Athletic Club. Along with getting his body in the shape he wanted, and getting his mind in a happy place as he called it, Jeffery was destined for a great
season.
"Everyone knows Jay has the talent and drive," said coach JR Shapiro. "He just needed to get to that place where he was happy off the field. He found that and we as
a team benefited."
Jeffery found peace off the field and in turned into one of the best all around seasons a player can have. Along with winning tourney MVP four times this year, he was
named to 12 all-tourney selections, both Street Kids records. In tournament ball, Jeffery improved dramatically from a year ago. He increased his average from .633 to
a team high .755, his home run output from 31 to 38, doubles from 21 to 39, triples from four to a team record 21 and total hits from 140 to 247. Overall, he won this
years Offensive Player of the Year award with a team high .766 average. He set overall team records with 25 triples and 430 hits. In league he was no slouch either,
batting .782, just behind Joe Horvath's .802 league average.
Jeffery took 17 out of 32 first place votes for 435 total points, while Joe Horvath had 13 second place votes and five first place votes for 275 total points to finish a
distant second. Jeremy Hochstetler had 235 total points to finish third and Leland Schmucker (115 points), Scott Martin (35) and Faron Miller (20 points) rounded out
the nominees.
Horvath had an even bigger season in 2011 than he did in his MVP-winning 2010 season. For that accomplishment, he was named the Comeback Player of the Year
(award given to a player who either comes back strong from an injury, or statistically makes a bigger comeback from the year before). Horvath won the League Player
of the Year award on Saturday after an amazing league season in which he become the first player to ever hit over .800 in a league season (with at least 30 games
played). He won the triple crown in league also, hitting 71 home runs and driving in 181 runs, doing it in 14 less games than the leader in games played.
Horvath had 17 out of 32 first place votes in the league voting for 440 points, while Jeffery had 330 points to finish a distant second. Leland Schmucker (150 points),
Fred Schmucker (105 points) and Tim Austin (95 points) rounded out the top five.
Jeremy Hochstetler, one of the newest members of SKS this year, fulfilled the promise the team was expecting when they brought him in, having a huge season
despite battling a nagging ankle injury for the last two months of the season. Hochstetler was named the Tourney Player of the Year on Saturday, and for good
reason: he led the tourney team in hits (282), at bats (382) and doubles (74), all of which are new SKS team records. His .738 batting average in tourney's was
second only to Jay Jeffery. He was also named MVP of the ASA "B" State Championship back in July and he was named to nine all-tourney teams this season.
"This season was a lot of fun," the quiet middle infield veteran said after getting his award. "We had some great chemistry and won some big games. Very proud of my
teammates this year."
Hochstetler finished the voting with 340 points, just barely edging second place finisher Jay Jeffery (325 points). Both had 11 first place votes. Horvath (235 points,
five first place votes) finished third while Leland Schmucker (130 points, four first place votes), Scott Martin (50 points) and Terry Patesel (45 points) rounded out the
nominees.
Hochstetler's long time Amish friend and a pitcher on the SKS team this year, Faron Miller, was named the Pinnacle Gold Glove Award winner and the look on his face
was priceless.
"Shocked," he said when he took to the microphone. "This was a huge shock to me. I don't know what to say, but thanks to my teammates and lets go out and have an
even bigger year in 2012."
Miller took seven first place votes and had 165 total points in the voting, while Leland Schmucker had four first place votes to finish second with 130 points. Jeremy
Hochstetler had 90 points, followed by Fred Schmucker with 45 points and Scott Martin with 40 points. Others receiving votes were Tim Austin, Nick Bishop (one first
place votes also) and Terry Patesel.
JR Shapiro was presented with the Home Comfort Experts/Street Kids Care Humanitarian Award, which was presented by last years winner Shane Varga.
"Not only is JR one of the best guys on this team, but one of my good friends as well," said Varga on Saturday. "He is always trying to make sure guys make it to the
SK Care events and he loves to be involved. Watching him work with complete strangers from a giving standpoint is awesome. He doesnt just play the role, he actually
cares."
Shapiro thanked his teammates, his friends TJ and Courtney and also the sponsors, who help make Street Kids Care a success as well.
Also being awarded on Saturday was the new Coach Teddy Teammate Award, which is given to the player that shows the most team heart, as Coach Teddy
Panagakos called it. Panagakos presented the award to Scott Martin. Following that award, Panagakos talked about the one tournament that the SKS team did not
finish in the championship game, the ASA Nationals in Oklahoma City.
"We didn't expect to be finished in one day for sure," Panagakos explained. "Our flight home was set for Monday, and here it was still Saturday at 4pm and we were
out of the tournament. No one wanted to stick around two more days, but we knew there was little we could do. So we get back to the hotel room and TJ breaks out his
iPad and starts working on moving flights for every single one of us. Some of the moves cost some money and a few guys didnt budget for that. Thats when JR
stepped up and said we are not leaving anyone behind. He pulled his credit card out and made it happen.
"Those two guys spent three hours working their ass off to get us out of town the next morning while everyone else was drowning their sorrows in beer. For that
reason, TJ and JR, I present these awards to you: The MVP of OKC!"
It was a great gesture on Teddy's part, and very appreciated.
The Street Kids organization also presented achievement awards to four players for their service to SKS over the years. Tony Hardiman, Joe Richard and JR Shapiro
were all given special awards for being with the SKS team for at least 10 years, while TJ Jorgensen was given the same award for completing his 15th season with
Street Kids Softball.
Another very special award was presented on Saturday by Terry Sherrill, the outrageous NSA umpire from Michigan City and former national umpire of the year
winner. Sherrill was honored last year at the banquet with the SKS Umpire Award and asked if he could be there this year to present a special award that he could not
talk about until that night.
"I first met TJ Jorgensen in 1998," Sherrill said at the podium on Saturday. "He had the prettiest hair in softball. Lol. But in that year, he told me of this dream plan he
had of building his own team and have that team not only play ball together, but do things in the community together as well. Years later, he made that dream happen.
Today, Street Kids Softball is the pinnacle of the sport and Street Kids Care is the beacon that shines at the top.
It is my honor to present the first ever Ri Ri Right There Award to the Street Kids Softball organization. I am proud to call all of you my friends."
The plaque was a letter to SKS and ended with "The humanity you show your community is unmeasurable. I'm proud to call you my friends. God Bless. Terry Sherrill."
It was a great night for the SKS team, and featured many friends that have played some part in the success of SKS. It was great to see Nielda, the late Alberto
Naranjo's mother in attendance to support not only the team she has come to love and admire, but support the many close friends of her fallen son, Berto.
Jim Kimmel of NSA was in attendance and presented the tourney player of the year award. Butch Lehman of Topeka Softball presented the League Player of the Year
award along with Jeff Knoll, the GM of Tilted Kilt.
The banquet was filmed by Josh Taylor and will be available soon. Be sure to visit the Street Kids Softball fan page on Facebook to see some pictures from the
banquet.
____________________________________________________________________
After a season that featured him batting over .800 in seven tournaments, including four batting over .900, Jason Jeffery picked up his first overall Street Kids Softball
Most Valuable Player award on Saturday evening during the 2011 SKS Awards Banquet at Tilted Kilt.
"I'm humbled," the soft spoken infielder said after the banquet. "I didn't even know what to say when I got up there. Everyone knows I am all about team; personal
awards are just little extras. We didn't accomplish what we wanted to do, but we had a great season and I do want to thank my teammates, the voters, the sponsors,
and TJ and Courtney for all they do. I am just so humbled right now."
Jeffery put the hard work in all winter long, spending several days a week in the gym along with several other players who were being trained by Mike Macellari at
Pinnacle Athletic Club. Along with getting his body in the shape he wanted, and getting his mind in a happy place as he called it, Jeffery was destined for a great
season.
"Everyone knows Jay has the talent and drive," said coach JR Shapiro. "He just needed to get to that place where he was happy off the field. He found that and we as
a team benefited."
Jeffery found peace off the field and in turned into one of the best all around seasons a player can have. Along with winning tourney MVP four times this year, he was
named to 12 all-tourney selections, both Street Kids records. In tournament ball, Jeffery improved dramatically from a year ago. He increased his average from .633 to
a team high .755, his home run output from 31 to 38, doubles from 21 to 39, triples from four to a team record 21 and total hits from 140 to 247. Overall, he won this
years Offensive Player of the Year award with a team high .766 average. He set overall team records with 25 triples and 430 hits. In league he was no slouch either,
batting .782, just behind Joe Horvath's .802 league average.
Jeffery took 17 out of 32 first place votes for 435 total points, while Joe Horvath had 13 second place votes and five first place votes for 275 total points to finish a
distant second. Jeremy Hochstetler had 235 total points to finish third and Leland Schmucker (115 points), Scott Martin (35) and Faron Miller (20 points) rounded out
the nominees.
Horvath had an even bigger season in 2011 than he did in his MVP-winning 2010 season. For that accomplishment, he was named the Comeback Player of the Year
(award given to a player who either comes back strong from an injury, or statistically makes a bigger comeback from the year before). Horvath won the League Player
of the Year award on Saturday after an amazing league season in which he become the first player to ever hit over .800 in a league season (with at least 30 games
played). He won the triple crown in league also, hitting 71 home runs and driving in 181 runs, doing it in 14 less games than the leader in games played.
Horvath had 17 out of 32 first place votes in the league voting for 440 points, while Jeffery had 330 points to finish a distant second. Leland Schmucker (150 points),
Fred Schmucker (105 points) and Tim Austin (95 points) rounded out the top five.
Jeremy Hochstetler, one of the newest members of SKS this year, fulfilled the promise the team was expecting when they brought him in, having a huge season
despite battling a nagging ankle injury for the last two months of the season. Hochstetler was named the Tourney Player of the Year on Saturday, and for good
reason: he led the tourney team in hits (282), at bats (382) and doubles (74), all of which are new SKS team records. His .738 batting average in tourney's was
second only to Jay Jeffery. He was also named MVP of the ASA "B" State Championship back in July and he was named to nine all-tourney teams this season.
"This season was a lot of fun," the quiet middle infield veteran said after getting his award. "We had some great chemistry and won some big games. Very proud of my
teammates this year."
Hochstetler finished the voting with 340 points, just barely edging second place finisher Jay Jeffery (325 points). Both had 11 first place votes. Horvath (235 points,
five first place votes) finished third while Leland Schmucker (130 points, four first place votes), Scott Martin (50 points) and Terry Patesel (45 points) rounded out the
nominees.
Hochstetler's long time Amish friend and a pitcher on the SKS team this year, Faron Miller, was named the Pinnacle Gold Glove Award winner and the look on his face
was priceless.
"Shocked," he said when he took to the microphone. "This was a huge shock to me. I don't know what to say, but thanks to my teammates and lets go out and have an
even bigger year in 2012."
Miller took seven first place votes and had 165 total points in the voting, while Leland Schmucker had four first place votes to finish second with 130 points. Jeremy
Hochstetler had 90 points, followed by Fred Schmucker with 45 points and Scott Martin with 40 points. Others receiving votes were Tim Austin, Nick Bishop (one first
place votes also) and Terry Patesel.
JR Shapiro was presented with the Home Comfort Experts/Street Kids Care Humanitarian Award, which was presented by last years winner Shane Varga.
"Not only is JR one of the best guys on this team, but one of my good friends as well," said Varga on Saturday. "He is always trying to make sure guys make it to the
SK Care events and he loves to be involved. Watching him work with complete strangers from a giving standpoint is awesome. He doesnt just play the role, he actually
cares."
Shapiro thanked his teammates, his friends TJ and Courtney and also the sponsors, who help make Street Kids Care a success as well.
Also being awarded on Saturday was the new Coach Teddy Teammate Award, which is given to the player that shows the most team heart, as Coach Teddy
Panagakos called it. Panagakos presented the award to Scott Martin. Following that award, Panagakos talked about the one tournament that the SKS team did not
finish in the championship game, the ASA Nationals in Oklahoma City.
"We didn't expect to be finished in one day for sure," Panagakos explained. "Our flight home was set for Monday, and here it was still Saturday at 4pm and we were
out of the tournament. No one wanted to stick around two more days, but we knew there was little we could do. So we get back to the hotel room and TJ breaks out his
iPad and starts working on moving flights for every single one of us. Some of the moves cost some money and a few guys didnt budget for that. Thats when JR
stepped up and said we are not leaving anyone behind. He pulled his credit card out and made it happen.
"Those two guys spent three hours working their ass off to get us out of town the next morning while everyone else was drowning their sorrows in beer. For that
reason, TJ and JR, I present these awards to you: The MVP of OKC!"
It was a great gesture on Teddy's part, and very appreciated.
The Street Kids organization also presented achievement awards to four players for their service to SKS over the years. Tony Hardiman, Joe Richard and JR Shapiro
were all given special awards for being with the SKS team for at least 10 years, while TJ Jorgensen was given the same award for completing his 15th season with
Street Kids Softball.
Another very special award was presented on Saturday by Terry Sherrill, the outrageous NSA umpire from Michigan City and former national umpire of the year
winner. Sherrill was honored last year at the banquet with the SKS Umpire Award and asked if he could be there this year to present a special award that he could not
talk about until that night.
"I first met TJ Jorgensen in 1998," Sherrill said at the podium on Saturday. "He had the prettiest hair in softball. Lol. But in that year, he told me of this dream plan he
had of building his own team and have that team not only play ball together, but do things in the community together as well. Years later, he made that dream happen.
Today, Street Kids Softball is the pinnacle of the sport and Street Kids Care is the beacon that shines at the top.
It is my honor to present the first ever Ri Ri Right There Award to the Street Kids Softball organization. I am proud to call all of you my friends."
The plaque was a letter to SKS and ended with "The humanity you show your community is unmeasurable. I'm proud to call you my friends. God Bless. Terry Sherrill."
It was a great night for the SKS team, and featured many friends that have played some part in the success of SKS. It was great to see Nielda, the late Alberto
Naranjo's mother in attendance to support not only the team she has come to love and admire, but support the many close friends of her fallen son, Berto.
Jim Kimmel of NSA was in attendance and presented the tourney player of the year award. Butch Lehman of Topeka Softball presented the League Player of the Year
award along with Jeff Knoll, the GM of Tilted Kilt.
The banquet was filmed by Josh Taylor and will be available soon. Be sure to visit the Street Kids Softball fan page on Facebook to see some pictures from the
banquet.
____________________________________________________________________
| The 2011 SKS highlight video was shown for the first time on Saturday at the annual banquet at Tilted Kilt. |
