Makayla Edell:   In the fall of 2020, as the year of Covid was wrapping up, we began our tryouts for the 2021 season.  As the process began, we struggled to find players as well as coaches for our 10u group.  After a few weeks of searching and recruiting, a young lady, who had a passion for the game of softball, decided to throw her hat in the ring of opportunity to become the leader of this small group of young men.  After her application was reviewed, and an interview was conducted, the organization knew we had secured a good one!  With no skin in the game, only a connection to a family friends’ son, this coach began spending the next two, (and hopefully many more) years donating countless hours to these young men.  She not only became their baseball coach, she became a friend to these kids, their families, and this grateful organization.  Whether it was taking these boys to a weekend tournament, or spending all day & night at our hosted tournaments, she was there lending a hand to whatever was needed.  She truly is one of a kind, and we couldn't be more proud to have her a part of this organization! 

There are several families within our program that donate so much to this organization, but we have a specific family that stuck out to our board, when nominations were submitted for this year’s person of the year award.  This award is in recognition of the years of service and support given to players, families, and board members of BAYBA.  To someone that donates more than their fair share of time.  To someone that goes above and beyond anytime there’s an opportunity.  This family has done just that.  Over the years, they have volunteered countless hours, far beyond the beginning of BAYBA, served on our inaugural board of directors, volunteered as a coach for the last seven years on three different teams, and just simply answers the call anytime it’s made.  On top of all that, this family also provides scholarships in memory of his father, to make sure any athlete, that is unable, is given the opportunity to play this game with us.

Gene Wright (Left):   He began his Bomber’s tenure way back in the fall of 2007.  He, as well as a few other parents were the pioneers for the Beloit Bombers Travel Baseball Program.  Not only did he spend several years coaching his own son, he hung around for a number of years, lending a hand wherever needed.  He and his family's business also spent many years providing our program with all of our uniforms and apparel.  Over the years, he has worn a number of different hats, and in some cases, helmets.  Alongside his  involvement in baseball, he served our community as a town administrator, paramedic, firefighter, reaching the ranks of Chief for two different departments, as well as becoming an instructor for future firefighters.  After retiring from the department, he made his way back to the ball field.  He has begun a new mission to bring a team he coaches in the Alternative Baseball Organization to its new home right here in his hometown, at this very facility.  The ABO is a baseball organization that allows those with disabilities to participate in this great game.   Currently he spends his days working for the Beloit Sky Carp as their Facilities Operation Manager.  He continues to  give back to our program every year with equipment donations, and plays a huge part in allowing our 14u teams to play games at ABC Supply Stadium.

Brad Andrews (Right):   There are always several people within our program that donate so much to this organization, but after the year we had last year with our hosted tournaments, we had a specific individual that stuck out to our board when nominations were submitted for this year’s person of the year award.  This award is in recognition of the years of service and support given to players, families, and board members of BAYBA. To someone that donates more than their fair share of time. To someone that goes above and beyond anytime there’s an opportunity. This individual & his family has done just that.  Over the past couple years, he has volunteered countless hours to this program, and more importantly, this facility.  As most of you can recall, the last few years of hosting tournaments here at the YSC has been more than challenging!  Last year specifically, we encountered large amounts of rain both at our SOB & WBC.  There were many hands on deck helping, but this man and his crew stayed well into the night, using his own equipment, including the headlights from his vehicle, and worked tirelessly to give our athletes a fighting chance to play baseball those weekends!  Although those tournaments were shortened, they did continue, and we were able to play baseball.  There was doubt in just about everyone's minds, but to this guy, it was just another opportunity to do what he loves for kids!  This year, he has already been out here numerous days helping the “Y” staff with field renovations and spring maintenance!

Joe Valdez (Left): This gentlemen is one whose volunteer hours are without a doubt, at the top of the list.  I met this guy in the Fall of 2020 at one of our Covid-19 outdoor unofficial board meetings.  At the time, he was just interested in being a part of Beloit Baseball, and maybe an opportunity to coach a team.  Well it didn't take long to realize he was going to be around…a lot!  He was selected to be a coach, and he took that as an invitation to everything that needed a volunteer.  From meat raffles to facility days, to Sky Carp days, to Family Nights, to hosted tournaments, heck he even comes to every single board meeting, and he's not even a board member.  He uses vacation days from work to come out here and help set up fields as well as whatever is needed to help put on this very event.  I’m not sure if you could find a more genuine man.  For the past six years, in addition to coaching his son’s team, he has devoted so much more of his personal time to help this organization continue to grow.  When I send out a text message, he is always one of the first names on the list, and always one of the first people to say, “ I'll be there, what should I bring?”  Even though he knows he's always supposed to bring the beer!  And occasionally, a ladder!  I’m proud to call this guy a friend.   I’m proud to be able to put you on our website, and tell all of these people here how much you have done for BAYBA, and what you really mean to this organization.  Tonight you can't hide behind the scenes, tonight we get to put you in the spotlight and say thank you.  Thank you for caring so much!   

Tylor Little (Right):  As the 2021 season was approaching, the world, as well as our community was still recovering from the crazy Covid-19 times.  At that time, there was a group of people working together in the Bombers program to get travel baseball back up and running again in Beloit.  The unofficial meetings continued with this group.  The ideas and goals began to increase, which means, so did the work.  Now don’t get me wrong here, there were a handful of people spending a lot of time on this, but there were some folks in particular that went above and beyond.  The guy I’m talking about today, dedicated so much of his time to help build the organization we see today.  The idea of creating the new organization we now know as BAYBA was going to take a ton of work, and he was right there at the head of the pack lending a hand wherever needed.  We spent many nights working to create a more fluid organization that included  registrations, equipment, tournament planning, fundraising, and a better working plan with the YMCA.  In the past five years, he has never missed an event!  He has attended every uniform fitting, every parents meeting, every coaches meeting, every winter workout day, every meat raffle, every batting helmet day, putting thousands of decals on new helmets, volunteered at every Sky Carp work day, setting up hundreds of tables & chairs, every YSC facility day, to set up or clean up the park, hang up, or take down batting cages, every Family Night, where he ordered and delivered all of the meals, put up fences &  set up homerun derbys, every hosted tournament, as a director, to prep fields, coach his kids team, to keep the official score, & even umpire games if needed.  For the last five years, he has been at everything!  The first to arrive, the last to leave.  What he has done for this organization, is truly immeasurable.  This plaque, and these few words I am reading, could never tell the whole story!  Personally, I cannot thank this man enough for his friendship, for sharing my passion for this game, and his dedication to help create the Beloit Area Youth Baseball Association.