Two members of the Olds peewee AA Spitfires -- Ryley Doig, 13, and Brynlee Rice, 14, -- received the male and female peewee provincial player of the year award respectively during a ceremony in Edmonton on Saturday (Nov. 17).
Spitfires head coach Travis Miller says both players richly deserve that award.
"It's a pretty amazing accomplishment for two really good athletes," Miller told the Albertan. "They're pretty hard awards to come by and they worked really hard for them. They deserve them."
Miller said Doig's greatest strength is his ability with the bat.
"He hits the ball hard and he hits it a long ways," Miller said. "He was definitely one of our best power hitters.
"He's just an all around gifted kid. He played good defence for us. He was usually our starting shortstop and a good kid; a good team leader, too," Miller said.
He said Rice is extremely talented too.
"She probably hits the ball harder than any of the boys in our league. She has just a powerful swing," Miller said. "She was our best first baseman."
Miller said Rice is also a great threat on the basepaths.
"She can run."
Miller said Rice also has a great arm.
"She pitched quite a bit for us as well," he said. "In provincials I think she pitched -- must have been about a six-inning shutout for us.
"She's an all around athlete. She's really good. I see big things in her future."
Olds Minor Baseball president Josh Zanolli said peewee AA baseball in the community has been on an amazing run for the past few years.
"For two years running where we've produced the player of the year," he said.
They also won the Tier 1 peewee provincial baseball championship in 2017 and 2018 plus the 2018 Western Canadian championship.
"I think it just kind of shows the quality of coaching we have in town here and the progression of the skills of these kids. It's been a nice little run here and hopefully we can continue that," Zanolli said.
"We've got a lot of good athletes here and some great families and parents who are willing to put some time in."
Doig said he didn't expect to be chosen for the award.
"I was surprised because there are so many other great players in Alberta that I've played against. It felt great too to win an award like that," he said.
He likes contributing offensively and defensively.
"My favourite position on defence is shortstop, but I think hitting's probably my favourite part of the game," Doig said.
His dream is to eventually make it into major league baseball.
Rice says she too is honoured to receive her award.
"Even though I wasn't playing in hopes for the award, I am very happy I got it," she said in an email."It means a lot."
Offence is Rice's favourite part of the game.
"I love being at the plate and running the bases," she said.
Rice wants to improve her defensive skills though.
She gets a charge out of competing against other teams.
