Woman of the Year Award
Anne Christine Ford, Bowie, MD

Man of the Year Awards
Charles H. (Chuck) Ford, Bowie, MD

John Benedict Sports Journalism Award
The News Examiner, Gallatin, TN
Cecil Joyce, Sports Editor
Craig Harris, Sports Writer
Chris Lynn, Sports Writer

NABF Award of Merit
Aaron J. Myers, Toledo, OH

Ronald E. McMinn Award
Richard (Dick) Crumback, Ft. Wayne, IN

2009 EVENT APPRECIATION AWARDS
Presented to White House High School Dugout Club, as host of the 2009 NABF National Classics Championship Series. Mark Mills, Tournament Director, Greater Nashville, Tennessee.

Presented to the City of Southaven, as host of the 2009 NABF National Classics Championship Series. Scotty Baker, Tournament Director, Southaven, Mississippi.

Presented to Del City Baseball Park, as host of the 2009 NABF National Classics Championship Series. John Connor, Tournament Director, Del City, Oklahoma.

Presented to Mid-Atlantic Championship Baseball, LLC, Inc., as host of the 2009 NABF National Classics Championship Series. Chuck Ford, Tournament Director, Bowie, Maryland.

Presented to Virginia Amateur Baseball Inc., as host of the 2009 NABF Sophomore Division National Championship Series. G.R. Wiley, Jr., Tournament Director, Lynchburg, VA

Presented to Northville Baseball/Softball Association, as host of the 2009 NABF
Junior Division National Championship Series. David Jerome, Tournament Director,
Northville, Michigan.

Presented to Virginia Amateur Baseball Inc., as host of the 2009 NABF High School
Division National Championship Series. G.R. Wiley, Jr., Tournament Director,
Lynchburg, Virginia.

Presented to Mississippi NABF, as host of the 2009 NABF Senior Division
National Championship Series. Derek Topik, Tournament Director, Jackson, Mississippi.

Presented to the City of Toledo Recreation Department (Toledo Amateur Baseball Federation,) as host of the 2009 NABF College Division National Championship Series. Aaron Myers, Tournament Director, Toledo, Ohio

Presented to Derby City Baseball, Inc., as the host of the 2009 NABF Major
Division National Championship Series. Greg Reddington, Tournament Director,
Louisville, Kentucky.

 

2009 Individual Recognition Awards

Woman of the Year Awards

Anne Christine Ford
Anne Ford has contributed to amateur baseball for over 20 years. Anne’s commitment to family, the community of the City of Bowie, Maryland and youth baseball are inspiring. As a mother of three, Anne’s involvement in youth baseball started in 1989 as Team Mom for the Bowie Boys and Girls Club providing, amongst other things, support and transportation for the players.

Since 1993, Anne has performed the duties of Administrative Assistant and Treasurer for Bowie area baseball tournaments. In addition, she has headed up fund raising concession duties.

Anne is employed by the City of Bowie, Maryland as the Administrative Assistant for the City Manager.

Anne and Chuck Ford have been shining examples community involvement for their children. All three children have worked local baseball programs with their parents.

Man of the Year Awards

Charles H. Ford (Chuck)
In support of his on going commitment to increase youth participation in baseball within his community and to recognize his contribution to the National Amateur Baseball Federation,
Charles H. Ford, (Chuck) has been selected as a National Amateur Baseball Federation’s 2009 Man of the Year.

Chuck Ford’s contribution to baseball spans close to 40 years. His tireless effort as a coach from 1971 until the present demonstrates his remarkable commitment to youth baseball. Since 1983, Mr. Ford has contributed to the community of the city of Bowie, Maryland. He has coached baseball for both the Bowie Boys and Girls Club and the South Bowie Boys and Girls Club, served as a member of the City of Bowie Community Recreation Committee for four years, held the positions of Bowie High School Junior Varsity Coach in 2003 and Assistant Varsity Coach from 2004-2009, and held the position of Head Coach for American Legion Baseball, Disney Bell Post 66 for many years. He has founded and directed many Bowie area baseball tournaments over the last 15 years.

Just a few of his many contributions to the National Amateur Baseball Federation include 2009 Tournament Director, and hosting multiple tournaments. During the 2008 Tournament Season, he hosted the Senior Division (18 & Under) Regional Tournament and during the 2009 Tournament Season, he hosted the Freshman Division (12 & Under) Regional/World Series Qualifier Tournament, as well as, the Sophomore Division (14 & Under), Junior Division (16 & Under) and Senior Division (18 & Under) Regional Tournaments. Additionally, Chuck Ford has served as a member of the Maryland State Baseball Association, a National Amateur Baseball Federation franchise member.

The National Amateur Baseball Federation looks forward to Chuck Ford’s continued support as Tournament Host in the 2010 Tournament Season.

John Benedict Sports Journalism Award

The News Examiner-Sports Staff
The News Examiner is the largest non-daily newspaper in the state of Tennessee. The newspaper is published three days per week and is located in Gallatin, the county seat. The News Examiner covers all of Sumner County, which includes nine Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association high schools, two private Christian-based high schools, sixteen middle schools and one community college. In addition to its coverage of youth and recreational sports and other high profile sporting events that take place in the area, the News Examiner’s primary focus involves coverage of every state-sanctioned high school sport.

The News examiner employs three full-time writers, sports editor Cecil Joyce and sports writers Craig Harris and Chris Lynn, and also utilizes the service of a correspondence base of approximately 10 individuals.

Craig Harris has the longest tenure with the publication at more than eleven years, while Cecil Joyce has directed the operation of the sports department for more than eight years. Chris Lynn joined the staff approximately four years ago. During the trio’s tenure with the publication, the News Examiner’s sports department and those individuals have been honored with numerous awards from the Tennessee Press Association and the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their work in the areas of photography, overall coverage, special sections, headlines and various areas of writing.

The News Examiner has been covering the National Amateur Baseball Federation National Championship series and the National Classics Tournament series that have been held in Sumner County for the last seven years, regularly providing coverage for not only the local teams participating but also to teams from various states.

NABF Award of Merit

Aaron J. Myers
Aaron was born and raised in the fine city of Toledo, Ohio. His parents, Andrea and Jim Myers, taught him the importance of bringing quality to whatever he decided to do in life, and to do it with passion. In his younger days, he played every sport, pick-up game, and/or competitive function you could think of around the neighborhood and for his schools. He took that love for competition into his adult life and started coaching baseball, basketball, and football for various school and organizations. He continues to take on the challenge of coaching the youth of today at Sylvania Southview High School where he is the Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach. His love for the game has led him to believe “I’m right where I’m supposed to be, in reference to my job and my life.”

As Athletics Activities Director for the City of Toledo, Aaron’s contributions to the NABF have been numerous. He oversees the administration of the Toledo Amateur Baseball Federation, and as tournament director, he has been instrumental in the pre-planning and execution of the College Division (22 & under) World Series in 2008 and 2009. Aaron has worked diligently to increase team participation, at all age divisions, in the Toledo area for the NABF. It is his dedication to and passion for amateur baseball that has brought much success to each of the tournaments that the City of Toledo has hosted.

Ronald E. McMinn Award

Richard (Dick) Crumback
Dick started playing baseball in high school and independent baseball in Grand Rapids before entering the Army in 1951. After moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1971, Dick starting coaching while his son played through the age divisions. He started sponsoring and managing a Major Division team with the Fort Wayne Baseball Federation in 1979 and has done so for the past 30 years.

His numerous contributions to the National Amateur Baseball Federation have included serving as NABF President (2003-2004), serving as a Director for the past several years, and as a Member of the Scholarship Committee. He has attended every NABF annual meeting over the last 15 years.

He and Betty, his wife of 57 years, have three children and six grandchildren. In addition to baseball, one of his passions, he enjoys hunting and snowmobiling at their camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

2009 Graduate of the Year

Zack Greinke, Major League Baseball’s Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royal’s pitcher Zack Greinke has been chosen as the 2009 National Amateur Baseball Federation Graduate of the Year. Zack Greinke played on a 2001 NABF team in Joplin, Missouri. He came as a shortstop and possible pitcher. He played shortstop and hit fourth during the first (4) four games. In the Semi-finals, he hit a walk-off homerun against AAABC for the Florida Amateur Baseball Association to advance to the championship game. Due to a shortage of pitching and in spite of his reluctance to be a Pitcher, he was talked into pitching the championship game. Although he had a great game, his team suffered a 3-2 loss to the USA Baseball Team.

Zack returned to Apopka High School to pursue pitching. With much hard work and determination, Zack was selected as a 2002 first round draft pick (4th overall) by the Kansas City Royals.

Zack Greinke made his Major League debut on May 22, 2004 playing for the Kansas City Royals against the Oakland Athletics. During the 2009 Season, Zack was player of the week for the weeks of 04/19/2009 and 05/31/2009. He was pitcher of the month for April, 2009 and he was selected for the 2009 All-Star team.

	Wins	Losses	ERA
2009 Season	16	8	2.16

 

 

2009 NABF $1,000.00 Scholarship Finalists

Mathew Safko, University of Maryland, Parade Ground League

Aaron Mayfield, Western Kentucky University, Derby City Baseball

Tray Sanderson, Urbana University, Miami Valley Amateur Baseball Federation

Jarrett Levine, Western Michigan University, Midwest Alliance Travel Baseball League

Andrew Bumgardner, Shawnee State University, Central Ohio Amateur Baseball Federation

 

IMPORTANT DEADLINES (For Franchise Member Organizations)

Nov 1 through May 15 of Current Year	Franchise membership fees due $150 (league associations) Tournament fees due: $300 Regional Play $400 Direct to World Series Penalty fee $25 after May 15th (May 15th deadline for franchise and tournament fees, see Article II, Sections 2B and 4 of Rule Book) Leagues having 8 or more Teams in ANY age group may send a second team to a tournament for $400.00.
June 1	Registration of your league and teams due (Rule 6.09) A copy of your current year league playing schedule due (Rule 6.13). See Team Registration form.
July 1	Player certification list due (Rule 4.02) for eligibility of players full names per each team from each league must be submitted by July 1, or not less than 15 days prior to the report date for the assigned Regional or World Series site. (Review all rules under sections 3.00, 4.00, 5.00 and 6.00) See Individual Team Certification for Eligibility form.
July 20	Application for reinstatement of players to amateur status deadline. (Rule 5.01 and 5.04) Review all rules under section 5.00. See Application for Reinstatement of Players form.
Required for participation in NABF	Liability insurance, all teams participating in NABF Regional or National Championship events are required to have one million dollars ($1,000,000) liability insurance coverage. NABF must be named as the additional insured under all policies (Rule 6.08). You may contact Frazier Insurance Agency at (804) 754-7610 for NABF approved insurance coverage.
Required for all teams taking park in NABF post season tournaments	Purchase NABF logo patches prior to participation at NABF events (Rule 9.04). Purchase logo patches from Carolina Emblem at (800) 221-1439 or go to Baseball Warehouse.

Please use this reminder as a guide during the current season. If you have questions, please contact your respective age division director or NABF national office. Answers to questions pertaining to eligibility of players and teams are covered in your NABF Rule Book and special instructional publications provided by NABF. Do not penalize your league and teams by failing to comply with your NABF rules. Thanks and have a great season. NABF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

NEW TOURNAMENT RULE CHANGES

New Rule Books will be available not later than February. NABF Rule Books are provided to each franchise member association upon renewal of their annual membership. Please review your rule book prior to participation in NABF National Tournament events.

Changes in your Constitution and Tournament Rules were accepted by the franchise member delegates taking parting in the Annual Meeting of the National Amateur Baseball Federation, Inc. (NABF).

3.11B Teams Competing in More Than One Association League(s). Any team registered with more than one NABF franchise association league, playing in a schedule of games as described under Rules 1.01, 1.02, 1.03 and 1.04 must inform the NABF office in writing of the association league that they will participate in for qualifying for NABF tournament play. Notification must be into the NABF office by May 15. Failure to comply will result in team(s) being ineligible to participate in NABF Regional or Championship Tournament Series games.

3.12 Cannot Play in a Tournament in More Than One Division. No Player will be permitted to play on more than one (1) team representing his or any other NABF franchise association in any NABF tournament, except as described under Rule 4.03. Teams/Players registered and playing in more than one age division, under a single schedule of games ie: College/Major Divisions and High School/Senior Divisions.

9.01 Playing Field Dimensions.

9.02 Protective Headgear

9.05B Wooden Bats. The following rule will apply to NABF Regional and National Championship Tournament Games. The bat shall be a smooth round stick not more than 2 ¾ inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length. The bat shall be one piece of solid wood.

9.05C Major, College, Senior, High School, Junior, and Sophomore Age Division Bats.
Wooden Bats as described under Rule 9.05B – Wooden Bats must be used in all Major, College, Senior, High School, Junior and Sophomore Division National Regional and National Championship Series Games with NO exceptions. No colored bats may be used in a NABF Tournament Game unless approved by the Major League Rules. The official colors are natural, black, burnt orange and hickory or brown.

9.12 Pitching Restrictions for Rookie and Freshman Divisions