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Babe Ruth Calgary
Babe Ruth Baseball Association of Calgary
www.baberuthcalgary.ab.ca
P.O. Box 35090, Sarcee Postal Outlet
4604 – 37th Street S.W.
Calgary, AB T3E 7C7
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Babe Ruth Calgary Member Darwin Kraft Honoured as Athletic Leader by
Calgary Booster Club
Calgary, Alberta – March 31, 2008 - Darwin Kraft, Babe Ruth Calgary coach, manager, and executive, will be honoured as Athletic Leader-Baseball this evening by the Calgary Booster Club (www.calgaryboosterclub.com) at its 55th Annual Sportsman of the Year Dinner at the Roundup
Centre, Palomino Room. Kraft, along with nine other Athletic Leaders, the 2008 Sportsman of the Year, and the Male and Female Athletes of the Year, will be recognized for their dedication “to the development and encouragement of athletic endeavour.”
From the Calgary Booster Club Website, www.calgaryboosterclub.com, accessed March 30, 2008:
Darwin Kraft played baseball and fastball for some thirty years from the 1950's to the 1980's. He was inducted into the Calgary Commercial Men’s Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1986. Since 1982, Darwin has coached teams in the Little League and Alberta Baseball systems. He has coached and managed AA and AAA teams in Calgary Babe Ruth for many years. In 2006, he managed the Babe Ruth Blues who made it to the Northwest Regional Championship, finally advancing to the Babe Ruth World Series in Newark, Ohio. That year Calgary Babe Ruth recognized Darwin’s substantial contributions with the “Builder of the Year” award. His on-field contributions are matched by his off-field administration work. Darwin has been Calgary Babe Ruth’s tournament coordinator, a member of the Board of Directors, and its Treasurer. Those who know Darwin well describe him as “firm and fair, quiet and strong, experienced and wise, and dedicated and respected.” His players have developed great game skills, but more importantly great life skills. The Calgary Booster Club is delighted to have Darwin Kraft as a 2008 Honoured Athletic Leader.
With Babe Ruth Calgary, Kraft is currently a coach with the AAA Dodgers, the manager of the Blues travel team (all-stars), and the member of the Board of Directors responsible for Travel Teams and Special Events, which includes Opening Day (Saturday, April 26, 2008) and the Annual Awards Banquet (Friday, October 3, 2008). Babe Ruth Calgary President Bob Lentz comments, “We’re extremely proud to have a sportsman of Darwin’s qualifications leading in Babe Ruth Calgary. He’s an outstanding athletic ambassador for Babe Ruth and for Calgary.”
Please see the following page for About Babe Ruth Calgary.
(Prepared by Bob Lentz)
CONTACT:
Randy Warnick
Babe Ruth Calgary
403-818-4054
randylw@gmail.com
www.baberuthcalgary.ab.ca
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About Babe Ruth Calgary
The mission of the Babe Ruth Baseball Association of Calgary (Babe Ruth Calgary) is:
To develop our players and the Association to a high level of excellence in baseball by creating a positive and dynamic environment that provides high quality competition, coaching, and facilities.
In the Spring League from March to July, our 21-year-old association operates an integrated five-club system with both AAA and AA divisions for ballplayers 15-18. Clubs are: Athletics, Dodgers, Giants, Indians, and Rockies. There are tryouts for new players, indoor practices, exhibition games, 24 regular season games, and playoffs.
From May through July, the Blues, Longhorns, and Selects – our all-star teams, made up of the more competitive players from the five clubs – travel to tournaments throughout the Prairies and the Pacific Northwest.
In August and September, 14-year-olds join 15-18-year-olds in Wood Bat Fall Ball.
Our Calgary games are played at Optimist and Glenmore Athletic Parks, which have lights and sound systems. Optimist Park also has a concession.
Other activities include:
Ø requiring Coaching Education by Babe Ruth League and Cal Ripken Baseball, as well as security clearance by the Calgary Police Service
Ø staging of Opening Day Ceremonies – special guest in 2008: PGA Tour golfer Stephen Ames
Ø hosting a Coach Appreciation Evening
Ø sponsoring Team Alberta and MLB Scouting Bureau open tryouts
Ø awarding academic and athletic scholarships
Ø donating reusable equipment and uniforms
Ø publishing a Yearbook
Ø providing an Annual Awards Banquet
Ø nominating a coach as a Calgary Booster Club Athletic Leader – winner in 2008: Darwin Kraft
Ø providing winter clinics for fielding, batting, and pitching and catching
Our non-profit association of almost 400 members delivers its development and competition programs at moderate cost and with moderate travel requirements. We depend upon player fees, fundraising, and sponsorships to provide funds for our programs and activities.
Many former Babe Ruth Calgary players have advanced to play for U.S. college teams while others such as Chris Reitsma, Ryan Radmanovich, and Jeff Zimmerman have played Major League Baseball.
For further information on Babe Ruth Calgary, please contact Randy Warnick, PR/Media/Sponsorship Director, at 818-4054 or randylw@gmail.com, or Bob Lentz, President, at 208-3616 or lentz@telusplanet.net.
Created by: Bob Lentz -- Last updated:Apr 22, 2008
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