Morgan Hill Pony Baseball Annual Awards
John Wedge Memorial:
Named after an early and inspirational supporter of Morgan Hill Pony Baseball, the "Wedge" award seeks to honor that player judged by their peers to be most inspirational to the team over the course of the entire season. The honor does not necessarily go to the player with the most skill, but to the teammate who best exemplifies the character strengths of persistence, optimism, and inspiration that were hallmarks of the life of John Wedge. Each team winner will be selected by his/her teammates.
Rudy Ortega Memorial:
Named after the president and principal organizer of the Morgan Hill Chapter of Pony Baseball. This award honors the manager or coach in each division who best personifies role-model character, dedication, and energetic volunteerism. During his life, cut short by cancer in 1987, Ruda Ortega exuded such qualified. Division\honorees will be selected in June by a secret ballot of their peers.
Christopher Henley Memorial:
Confined to the Bronco Division, this MVP award seeks to honor that 11 or 12 year old player, judged by division managers, to be the Most Valuable in the regular season. Named after a skilled former Bronco Division Player who died in 1993 after a 10 year career in Pony Baseball. This award will honor that player who best emulates Christopher Henley’s quiet nature and dedication to teamwork, fun-loving, never-quit baseball attitude.
Reggie Arias Memorial:
Confined to the Pony Division, the Reggie Arias MVP Award seeks to honor that player, judged by the division managers to be the Most Valuable in the regular season. Named after a skilled Pony Division player who died in 1991, who played at a distinguished level in each of the lower divisions since 1983. The honoree will be that player who is not only a skilled player, but whose sustained performance under diverse competitive conditions set them apart from the other skilled players in the Pony-Division.
Dan Larice Memorial:
Named after a community member of Morgan Hill Pony Baseball who dedicated countless volunteer hours. Many of the equipment boxes and scoring booths at the MHPB fields were built by Dan Larice. This award honors that community member who assists whenever and wherever needed as a volunteer. The honoree is selected by the MHPB Board in February, and honored at the Opening Day Ceremony.
John Bennett Award:
Named after a MHPB Coach, Manager, Division Representative, and President. John Bennett was a mentor to many players and coaches over his near 20 years of service. He helped and assisted whether players or coaches were on his team or not. The award honors the individual who mentors others in Morgan Hill Pony Baseball. The honoree is selected by the board.
Morgan Hill Pony Baseball Scholarship:
This scholarship is being awarded to a baseball or softball player from Live Oak High School and one from Sobrato High School. It is being given to a student who played in MHPB, played baseball or softball for their high school, and maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. MHPB wants to acknowledge the players that came through their program, played at their high school, and excelled in school. 2015 was the inaugural year for this scholarship.
