MEDIA RELEASEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â September 29, 2015
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SUBJECT: Â Â DARREN LIPINSKI MEMORIAL AWARD
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This media conference is to announce the winner of the 2014 Darren Lipinski Memorial Award.
This award was established in 1975 by Peter and Ellen Lipinski to be awarded annually by the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association to an individual(s) for outstanding contribution to softball in Saskatoon. Previous winners of this award were as follows:
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1975 - John Newton 1977 - Glenn Reeve 1979 - Andy Lappas 1981 - Morris Smysnuik 1983 - Ray and Dot Pike 1985 - Keith McLean 1987 - Joe Gallagher 1989 - Irene Trimble-Barrett 1991 - John Haider 1993 - Ed Wright 1995 - Ed Bitz 1997 - Ernie Sorokowski 1999 – Dave Moore 2001 – George Storos 2003 – Ida Nerbas 2005 – Bob Revenko 2007 – Ted Lester 2009 - Noreen Murphy 2011 – Earle Woodside 2013 – Doug Schultz 2015 - ??? |
1976 - Bob Van Impe 1978 - Ed Reimer 1980 - Dennis Beerling 1982 - Jim Shirley 1984 - Gail Hopkins-Cooper 1986 - Bob Stayner 1988 - Vic Loewen 1990 - Don Burfitt 1992 - Ken Gunn 1994 - Gaile Abel 1996 - Lisa Down 1998 - Eugene McWillie 2000 - Al McKay 2002 – Bernie Gurash 2004 – Gary MacDonald 2006 –Wayne & Marlene Paul 2008 – Bryan Kosteroski 2010 – Lawrence Beatty 2012 – Roger Malmgren 2014 – Gary Burns  |
Past recipients of the award serve on the selection committee to choose the succeeding winners.
SASKATOON AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
MEDIA RELEASE - SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
DARREN LIPINSKI MEMORIAL AWARD
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This year’s recipient has contributed significantly to the sport of softball in Saskatoon as a long term volunteer on many levels. Â
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His contribution to softball started when he served on Saskatoon Minor Softball League’s (SMSL) executive for six years. While with SMSL, he oversaw the development of the Learn to Play Program in Saskatoon. In addition, he was also involved in the development of the winter school program for Blast Ball, developing all the marketing materials for this very new and exciting program in the city. This program introduced the sport of softball to a large number of children who are still participating today.
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For the past seven years he has been active on the executive of the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association (SASA), overseeing all communications and marketing within the SASA leagues and tournaments.
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He has served either as a volunteer or Host Committee member for a number of championships including: 2009 Men’s World Championship, 2013 U21 International, the recent 2015 Men’s World Championship, 4 National Championships (including 2014 U18 Canadian), Western Canadian Championships (including 2014 Master Men’s) as well as numerous City and Provincial Championships.
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Prior to and during each of these events he has produced the program and daily news letters, sometimes known as “Champ’s Chatterâ€, and provided the media with constant updates. Along with help from his son Adam they operate continuously on Twitter and Facebook during any and all tournaments held in Saskatoon.
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SASKATOON AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
MEDIA RELEASE - SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
DARREN LIPINSKI MEMORIAL AWARD
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During the summer months for the past twelve years he has and continues to provide the Star-Phoenix with a regularly run softball column which hi-lights softball activities, upcoming events and points of interest regarding Saskatoon and or Saskatchewan player achievements.
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Our recipient has also been an active coach with T ball and Learn-To-Play programs for both boys and girls, up through the minor age groups to bantams. He began in the Confederation Park area and then moved to Parkridge where he continued his involvement with minor softball. In 2003 he was a coach with the Sask First Men’s program that went on to win the silver medal at that championship. He is still actively coaching an adult ladies team.
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Since 1978, our recipient has also been involved in coaching High School athletics. This included coaching High School football for 35 years as either a Head Coach or Assistant Coach, and coaching High School wrestling for 17 years.Â
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He holds a Level 3 (Comp-Development) coaching certification in multiple sports.
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Because of his training and desire to contribute to Softball Canada and Softball Saskatchewan, he has been a key softball coaching clinic instructor/facilitator in Saskatoon and throughout northern Saskatchewan for over 10 years.
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He became active with Softball Canada on the planning committee for the Triple Play Website which is targeted to attract the 8-14 year old age group to follow their progression in softball, and currently sits on the Softball Canada Coaching Development Committee.
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This year’s recipient and his wife Debbie have two sons, Adam and Steven and one daughter, Lauren.Â
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SASKATOON AMATEUR SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION
MEDIA RELEASE - SEPTEMBER 29, 2015
DARREN LIPINSKI MEMORIAL AWARD
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Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the recipient of the 41st annual Darren Lipinski Memorial Award for 2015:
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     Mark Loehndorf    |
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