Horvath Wins MVP Award
Hershberger named Tournament Player of the Year; Jorgensen
named League Player of the Year
named League Player of the Year
Following the Humanitarian award presentation, Jorgensen took to the podium and reminded people of what Street Kids Care is all
about.
"People will continue to make jokes and laugh, but over 3 million visitors have been on the website in 2009 alone, and that makes what
we are doing pretty special," he said. "I continue to encourage each and every one of you to take what you've seen here and take it past
Street Kids Care and to continue to get others inspired, like Cory Ray and Jerry Slack who we heard from earlier tonight, so that they
can go out and make a difference. Because once we do that, we are not just making a difference here, but we are changing the world."
After Jorgensen spoke, he introduced one of the highlights of the night, SKS teammate and cancer survivor, Shane Varga.
"It gives me great pleasure to introduce the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year to Shane Varga," Jorgensen said as Varga took to the
podium.
Varga's speech was so wonderful that we will not share it with you now, but you can see the speech in its entirety later this week on
StreetKidsSoftball.com.
The evening closed with softball icon Jeff Hall, one of the most charismatic players that ever played. On top of being the most
recognized name on a softball bat today (currently has 11 Jeff Hall model Worth bats), he keeps busy on the Long Haul Bombers
stadium power tour, where he and other super major players tour the country and put on a show in major league stadiums prior to
games.
When Hall was introduced, the first words out of his mouth summed up the night.
"Wow," he said. "What can you say to all of this. I cant go any further without first congratulating the 2009 NSA top rated B teams in
America, Street Kids Softball."
After talking about many things, including his personal life, how he became the player he is today, he also talked about what he learned
about Street Kids Softball after spending countless hours on the website. He was kind enough to email a copy of his speech to us to
share with you an excerpt here:
“When I decided to do some extensive research about street kids care, I was amazed to discover some wonderful things about you
guys. I learned that:
a. I learned that a softball team, when driven with the right motivation, can organize a blood drive and actually raise enough blood to
save 75 lives right here in South Bend, Indiana.
b. I learned that a softball team can dress up in pink jerseys and win a softball tournament, dedicating it to all those brave women
fighting against breast cancer.
c. I learned that a softball team, when given the opportunity to do so, can step into the lives of people like Dillion Weldy, a 10-year-
old cancer survivor and create a long lasting friendship that will carry with that young man for years to come.
d. I learned that a softball team can take the lanes at a local bowling alley and spend time making other sick children feel good, even
if its for one day.
e. I learned that a softball team, when given the playing field to do so, can organized two wonderful “opening day” events, where
children with cancer and their families can come out and play ball against this caring, and wonderful group of men.
f. I learned that a softball team, when faced with the realty of the fact that poverty and homelessness is alive in every community, will
step up and volunteer at Faith Mission in Elkhart, willing to go the extra mile to make sure those people are fed.
g. I learned that a softball team will go into the local childrens hospital and spend time with other children privately, getting to know
them, making them laugh, and showing them that with courage, anything can happen.
h. I learned that a softball team, clad in pink shirts, will take to the streets with thousands of others, and walk for breast cancer
awareness.
i. I learned that a softball team will spend 18 straight hours walking around a track for Relay For Life, raising money and awareness
for the American Cancer Society.
j. I learned that a softball team, when remembering that young children that are not going through cancer or illness still need that
special someone to show them guidance, will spend an afternoon at the local Boys and Girls Club with kids.
k. I learned that a softball team can raise toys for the Toys for Tots by putting on a golf outing.
l. I learned that a softball team will stand in the down pouring freezing rain to help hand out boxes of food for Feed the Children to
people that cant afford to feed their own families.
m. But most importantly, I learned what a softball team can do when they rally behind one of their own who was diagnosed with
cancer.
“The way you guys have huddled around Shane Varga, your friend and teammate, when he was at his worst, is something that I will
always remember about Street Kids Softball. Shane, I read your entire page and what a tough, sad at times, but wonderful and
INSPIRATIONAL story you have. You used your illness as a way to change other peoples lives, and you showed that your faith in
God and determination to beat cancer is what it took to do just that. You are an amazing person and these people, the players on the
street kids and suburban-street kids softball teams, are an example of what the sport is TRULY about. Its not just about hitting home
runs, or winning tournaments, its about winning lives… making friends with people like Dillion… feeding the hungry… and beating
cancer."
The entire event was only supposed to last about three hours, but turned out to be about four and a half, but what a memorable night it
was.
This concludes the 2009 Street Kids and Suburban/SKS softball season, but the website is always changing! Look for several new
announcements in the coming days, including the newest team to join the SKS franchise.
Note: All of the pictures will be available online in a couple of weeks.
________________________________________________________________________________
about.
"People will continue to make jokes and laugh, but over 3 million visitors have been on the website in 2009 alone, and that makes what
we are doing pretty special," he said. "I continue to encourage each and every one of you to take what you've seen here and take it past
Street Kids Care and to continue to get others inspired, like Cory Ray and Jerry Slack who we heard from earlier tonight, so that they
can go out and make a difference. Because once we do that, we are not just making a difference here, but we are changing the world."
After Jorgensen spoke, he introduced one of the highlights of the night, SKS teammate and cancer survivor, Shane Varga.
"It gives me great pleasure to introduce the 2009 Comeback Player of the Year to Shane Varga," Jorgensen said as Varga took to the
podium.
Varga's speech was so wonderful that we will not share it with you now, but you can see the speech in its entirety later this week on
StreetKidsSoftball.com.
The evening closed with softball icon Jeff Hall, one of the most charismatic players that ever played. On top of being the most
recognized name on a softball bat today (currently has 11 Jeff Hall model Worth bats), he keeps busy on the Long Haul Bombers
stadium power tour, where he and other super major players tour the country and put on a show in major league stadiums prior to
games.
When Hall was introduced, the first words out of his mouth summed up the night.
"Wow," he said. "What can you say to all of this. I cant go any further without first congratulating the 2009 NSA top rated B teams in
America, Street Kids Softball."
After talking about many things, including his personal life, how he became the player he is today, he also talked about what he learned
about Street Kids Softball after spending countless hours on the website. He was kind enough to email a copy of his speech to us to
share with you an excerpt here:
“When I decided to do some extensive research about street kids care, I was amazed to discover some wonderful things about you
guys. I learned that:
a. I learned that a softball team, when driven with the right motivation, can organize a blood drive and actually raise enough blood to
save 75 lives right here in South Bend, Indiana.
b. I learned that a softball team can dress up in pink jerseys and win a softball tournament, dedicating it to all those brave women
fighting against breast cancer.
c. I learned that a softball team, when given the opportunity to do so, can step into the lives of people like Dillion Weldy, a 10-year-
old cancer survivor and create a long lasting friendship that will carry with that young man for years to come.
d. I learned that a softball team can take the lanes at a local bowling alley and spend time making other sick children feel good, even
if its for one day.
e. I learned that a softball team, when given the playing field to do so, can organized two wonderful “opening day” events, where
children with cancer and their families can come out and play ball against this caring, and wonderful group of men.
f. I learned that a softball team, when faced with the realty of the fact that poverty and homelessness is alive in every community, will
step up and volunteer at Faith Mission in Elkhart, willing to go the extra mile to make sure those people are fed.
g. I learned that a softball team will go into the local childrens hospital and spend time with other children privately, getting to know
them, making them laugh, and showing them that with courage, anything can happen.
h. I learned that a softball team, clad in pink shirts, will take to the streets with thousands of others, and walk for breast cancer
awareness.
i. I learned that a softball team will spend 18 straight hours walking around a track for Relay For Life, raising money and awareness
for the American Cancer Society.
j. I learned that a softball team, when remembering that young children that are not going through cancer or illness still need that
special someone to show them guidance, will spend an afternoon at the local Boys and Girls Club with kids.
k. I learned that a softball team can raise toys for the Toys for Tots by putting on a golf outing.
l. I learned that a softball team will stand in the down pouring freezing rain to help hand out boxes of food for Feed the Children to
people that cant afford to feed their own families.
m. But most importantly, I learned what a softball team can do when they rally behind one of their own who was diagnosed with
cancer.
“The way you guys have huddled around Shane Varga, your friend and teammate, when he was at his worst, is something that I will
always remember about Street Kids Softball. Shane, I read your entire page and what a tough, sad at times, but wonderful and
INSPIRATIONAL story you have. You used your illness as a way to change other peoples lives, and you showed that your faith in
God and determination to beat cancer is what it took to do just that. You are an amazing person and these people, the players on the
street kids and suburban-street kids softball teams, are an example of what the sport is TRULY about. Its not just about hitting home
runs, or winning tournaments, its about winning lives… making friends with people like Dillion… feeding the hungry… and beating
cancer."
The entire event was only supposed to last about three hours, but turned out to be about four and a half, but what a memorable night it
was.
This concludes the 2009 Street Kids and Suburban/SKS softball season, but the website is always changing! Look for several new
announcements in the coming days, including the newest team to join the SKS franchise.
Note: All of the pictures will be available online in a couple of weeks.
________________________________________________________________________________
| Visit the SKS video page for the 2009 year in review highlight video! |
