ATHLETE OF THE YEAR AWARDS

Softball Canada has established Athlete of the Year awards presented by Home Run Sports (a division of Kahunaverse Sports). A total of six Athlete of the Year award recipients will be announced on an annual basis:

• Female Fast Pitch Athlete of the Year
• Male Fast Pitch Athlete of the Year
• Female Fast Pitch Minor Athlete of the Year
• Minor Male Fast Pitch Minor Athlete of the Year
• Female Slo-Pitch Athlete of the Year
• Male Slo-Pitch Athlete of the Year

The Softball Canada Awards Committee will consult with National Team coaches and Canadian Championship Supervisors to determine the recipients for each Athlete of the Year category. The recipients will be announced prior to the Softball Canada Congress.

Upon selection, and prior to final approval by the Board, the recipients' provincial or territorial association (President, Executive Director or other designated senior staff member) may be consulted to confirm the selected recipient is a member in good standing.

The name of the individuals selected as Athletes of the Year will be submitted to the Softball Canada Board of Directors for final approval.

SELECTION CRITERIA

The recipients of the six Athlete of the Year awards will be selected based on the following criteria:

• Must be a Canadian citizen / landed immigrant.
• Must be a member in good standing with Softball Canada.
• Must have represented Softball Canada at the international level; and/or
• Must have played in a Canadian Championship.
• Cannot be a previous winner.

In determining the recipients of the Athlete of the Year awards, Softball Canada will take many factors into account including, but not limited to, individual performance, team performance, experience and leadership.

2021 RECIPIENTS

FEMALE FAST PITCH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Jenn Salling (Port Coquitlam, B.C.) helped lead Canada to a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, setting an Olympic record with a .571 batting average. Salling also competed at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and was been a key member of the Women’s National Team program since 2006, winning three WBSC World Cup bronze medals along with one gold and three silver at the Pan American Games.

MALE FAST PITCH ATHLETE OF THE YEAR

Bradley Ezekiel (Harbour Main, N.L.) won gold with the Hill United Chiefs at the ISC World Tournament followed by another gold medal at the Rawlings Grand Slam event with the Saskatoon Angels. Ezekiel has been part of the Men’s National Team since 2011, winning gold at the 2015 WBSC World Cup and Pan American Games and adding a pair of bronze medals at the 2017 and 2019 World Cups. He is widely recognized as one of the world’s top hitters and has won numerous championships and awards at the Canadian Championship level.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

2020

No awards (COVID-19 pandemic)

2019

Female Fast Pitch: Victoria Hayward (ON)
Male Fast Pitch: Bryan Abrey (BC)
Female Fast Pitch (Minor): Kendra Falby (FLA)
Male Fast Pitch (Minor): Connor Brooks (ON)
Female Slo-Pitch: Michelle Lorenz (ON)
Male Slo-Pitch: Justin Pennell (AB)