SOFTBALL ALBERTA ANNUAL AWARDS
WE ARE SO PROUD TO HAVE THESE AMAZING VOLUNTEERS ON OUR EXECUTIVE.
Josh, Julie and Scott's nominations were SELECTED as the 2023 Zone 1 Provincial Merit Award recipients.
Josh Hudson
Josh Hudson has been on the MHMSA executive for 5 years and has filled 2 positions, Vice President of Operations and Player Coach Development Coordinator. When a board has a voluteer like Josh, a nomination is likely to miss part of what he has contributed, as he has helped in countless capacities and influenced positive change in many ways MHMSA functions today. Under the Player Coach Development role, Josh resurrected association wide fall/winter training, and created affordable clinic options focusing on pitching and catching, while utilizing and welcoming many community minded and past athletes into the coaching and mentorship fold. He facilitated the Olympian clinic in Medicine Hat which surely inspired a slew of athletes and sparked more passion for our Thunder provincial stream. Before Josh filled the VP of Operations role, he had already took on many of those responsibilities. He has helped advocate for equitable access to facilities in Medicine Hat for female sport and softball and spent countless hours attending meetings and writing grants. Josh also championed MHMSA to take the pledge within the Responsible Coaching Movement, committing our association to being safe, smart and secure for everyone. In 2019, Josh chaired a Thunder program advissory board, helping to shape and redesign our provinicial program. This project snowballed into a full association policy review and rewrite and absorbed an extrondinary amount of hours. His substantial knowledge of policy and board structure is always helpful when a difficult situation is at hand. Josh's decision making is always thorough and based on what is best for athletes, program growth and the minor softball association. Not only does Josh sit on the executive, he can be found assisting the softball community in other capacities. Josh has coached within our house league for YEARS, fostering a love for the sport with new players. He has coached within our Thunder program and in fact the 2022 season he took on the U17D team as it sat without a coach. He coached the Alberta Summer Games team in 2023 and was selected as the coach for the ASG sidelined by COVID. He helps with assessments, pitches in at tournaments/provincials and is a mentor for new coaches. Josh is leaving the MHMSA board this year as his daughters have now transtioned out of minor sport. His absence will be felt and we hope to recognize his contributions as the Zone 1 Merit award recipient. He is very deserving of this award.
Julie Sweet
Julie Sweet has been on the MHMSA executive for 5 years and has filled several positions: U15 Coordinator, High School Coordinator and most recently the new position of House League Director. Coordinator positions are huge workloads, encompassing everything for that division: scheduling, coach recruitment/credentials/mentorship, drafts and rosters, tournament planning and all the coordination between teams and other moving pieces like uniforms and equipment. Julie took on the House League Director role this year helping each division coordinator manage all the above tasks and responsibilities while also taking on awards for the house league program. She is diligent, efficient and committed to helping others succeed in their volunteer positions. Julie also stepped up in 2022, joining an advisory board that met for 20+ hours to help with policy updates. There was a lot of work involved in writing conflict of interest policies, code of ethics policies and other policies that will help ensure that clear direction is laid out for executives of MHMSA for years to come. During our hosted provincials (2019 + 2021), Julie was first to the diamond and often last to leave. She was willing to do anything to make sure that all the teams were comfortable and the experience was enjoyable. She was especially important helping with volunteer placement and assisted the treasurer with 50/50 and daily cash counts. Julie is INVOLVED. She always helps with our casino, is often managing a Thunder team while helping with a house league team. She tallies data at assessments and brightens all volunteer work with her quick wit and hilarious demeanour. She is to the point about serious issues and holds everyone around her accountable. MHMSA hopes to recognize her contributions as the Zone 1 Merit award recipient. She is very deserving of this award!
Scott Plouffe
Scott Plouffe has been on the MHMSA executive for 5 years and has been the Facilities Director. Scott’s greatest asset for MHMSA is diplomacy and the ability to create positive working relationships for MHMSA with 3 school boards, County Councils, City of Medicine Hat and Town of Redcliff. He is the direct point of contact for all bookings, which has developed into a much greater job than a 9 week spring city booking - rather a juggling act of diamonds, gym spaces and field house rentals for nearly a full year. Scott is the first voice advocating for diamonds free of weeds, slopitch mats and large ruts. He has built connections within the parks and recreation departments and has helped MHMSA obtain equipment necessary to maintain diamonds. He sets up pre-season meetings outlining usage and concerns and has attended countless meetings advocating for equitable access to diamonds for MHMSA and our athletes. Scott oversees all diamond maintenance, which includes weekly grooming of diamonds and any staff to do so. He organizes two season kick offs of diamond clean up, where he oversees nearly 100 volunteers. He ensures our diamond equipment is stored properly and well taken care of (tractor, harrows, etc). Scott is forward thinking, helping bridge the gap between the Dunmore community association and MHMSA and not only helping organize a diamond upgrade within that community, but ensuring MHMSA had access to that facility 4x week. During our hosted provincials (2019 + 2021), Scott was a key player both in planning and during the event. Not much happened regarding grooming and playing surfaces that Scott was not directly involved with. In 2019, he even stayed right at the facility, parked in his camper in the parking lot! Scott attends executive meetings, always weighing in for the best direction for our programs and all kids. He is willing to help in any capacity and we hope to recognize his contributions as the Zone 1 Merit award recipient. He is very deserving of this award - quite simply we would be lost without his help!
2022 Softball Alberta Awards
Zone 1 Merit Award recipient - Michelle Campbell, Jay Pinnell
2021 Softball Alberta Awards
Zone 1 Merit Award recipient - Rebecca Jackiw, Cindy Cotton, Meagan Tayler
2019 Softball Alberta Awards
Zone 1 Merit Award recipient - Jennifer Matt
Merit Award nominee - Rebecca Jackiw, Christina Philbert
2018 Softball Alberta Awards
Coach of the Year Minor - Scott Kelly
Zone 1 Merit Award recipient - Stephanie Cram and Alisha Denisson
Merit Award nominee - Kayla Plouffe
