Patrick McConnell named EBA Volunteer of the Year
Community volunteer Patrick McConnell was lauded for his dedication to baseball in Etobicoke during an awards presentation at the Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) annual general meeting this week.
Bloordale Baseball president Patrick McConnell accepts the League of the Year trophy from Etobicoke Baseball President Tony DiRollo during the recent EBA Awards Cermony. McConnell was also named the 2011 EBA Volunteer of the Year
McConnell is the current president of Bloordale Baseball Association – one of several baseball leagues affiliated under the EBA banner. For the past decade, McConnell has been supporting youth involvement in baseball as a coach, division convener, and board member.
In addition to his official duties noted above, he spends hundreds of hours on field maintenance and with convening or assisting with the convening of tournaments at Millwood Park. In addition, McConnell worked tirelessly to ensure Millwood receive numerous improvements over the past year, including the installation of a home run fence, storage bunker, the acquistion of a tractor and the rebuilding of the pitcher’s mound at the park’s main diamond.
Patrick instills a great sense of pride in those who are recruited to assist with board tasks, coaching or convening and makes everyone at EBA and Bloordale feel like part of the greater baseball family. He has provided an expertise and instilled a love of the game with every level of player, from tball to bantam house league, to select and AAA.
Through all these efforts, Patrick has helped to create a positive reputation for Bloordale and Etobicoke baseball now and for years to come. His volunteerism is a legacy to Etobicoke Baseball Association and Bloordale Baseball Association.
In addition to receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award, McConnell was also honoured to accept the President’s Award for League for League of the Year from EBA on behalf of Bloordale Baseball Association. Among other contributions, Bloordale was lauded for providing a new and vibrant website and social networking channels to parents and players, and for its volunteer recruitment efforts.
Click here to read a full version of the Nomination and a letter of support submitted on Patrick’s behalf. Click here to read a copy of the speech that was read out during the ceremony.