Buddy Baseball Newsletter
April 2020
Hello Buddy Baseball Fans, 
   
As you know, this season has not gone as planned. The Coronavirus put a screeching halt to everything. At this time, we do not know if we will be able to schedule a few games once we are cleared to play or not. We will let you know.
 
There is some good news to share! We are pleased to announce this year's Sarah Otteson Buddy Scholarship winners. Our winners are: Joe Vreeland from Cypress Creek High School , Jimmy Taylor from Newsome High school and Matthew Taylor from Wharton High School. Joe, Jimmy and Matthew each received a $1000 check for their college expenses. 
 
Scholarship applicants submitted essays and responded to questions describing their extracurricular activities and community service involvement. Additionally, applicants explained why they chose to participate in Buddy Baseball, shared a highlight of their Buddy Baseball experience and how they thought their experience will help them in the future. Each applicant was then evaluated by an independent panel of judges.
 
Since 2013, Buddy Baseball has awarded $18,000 in scholarships. We are lucky to have so many amazing buddies as part of our league.

Stay safe and healthy everybody. Looking forward to seeing you all again real soon.

 
Russ Oberbroeckling
Executive Director


Sarah Otteson Buddy Scholarship
Scholarship winners: Joe Vreeland, Jimmy Taylor and Matthew Taylor.
Player Spotlight
Joseph Vilchez
Joseph Vilchez
Joseph turned 15 last month and attends Pepin Academy. He likes  to repeat funny quotes from old movies and shows. (For example: The Three Stooges, Home Alone, WWE, Christmas Vacation) Joseph loves to perform and was Smee in the production of Peter Pan Jr. last month. He also plays the drums and sings. If he had a $1000 he would buy a smoke machine. 
Buddy Spotlight
Jose Trevino
Jose Trevino
Jose Trevino is 16 years old and attends Land O Lakes High School. He has been playing Buddy Baseball for five seasons. Jose also plays basketball on his high school team and has played baseball and football for many years. He has an older brother, a younger sister and a dog named Emma.
Rookie Spotlight
Keith Breedlove
Keith Brredlove
Keith Breedlove attends Florida Autism Center for Excellence and is 12 years old. He loves the color green, loves playing with money and listening to music. His most prized possession is his change jar. Keith's favorite restaurant is the Olive Garden and is favorite thing for breakfast is Captain Crunch.
C oach Spotlight 
Sarah Knodle
Sarah Knodle
Sarah is from Rockford, IL and moved to Florida about three years ago. Her parents are still live in Rockford and will retire after this school year. Her brother and sister-in-law live in Boston are expecting a baby any day now. Sarah recently accepted a job at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton as a physical therapist on the Inpatient Rehabilitation unit. She spends her free time staying active either running, biking, or playing soccer.  Sarah has been involved in Rockford's Buddy Baseball league since the original 2009 season and continued on down here in Florida since 2017 when she moved. "It has been an amazing 12 years!! My favorite memories are coming back to a new season and seeing how much the kids on my team have grown over the past few months. I like to see the increased socialization and initiation amongst the team, as well as the kids growing independence on the field fills my heart with so much joy!"

Fun fact: Earlier this year she spent two amazing weeks traveling around Peru with a group of friends!
Parent Spotlight 
Kathy and Scott Kantrowitz
Kathy and Scott Kantrowitz
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Kathy and Scott Kantrowitz both grew up locally. Kathy in Brandon, Scott in Plant City. They met and worked together at Skateland of Brandon (now Astro Skate). Scott went off to Florida State University in 1980 and Kathy in 1981, where they each majored in Psychology. Scott proposed to Kathy on the front steps of the FSU Westcott building and they've been married for 35 years. 

After graduating FSU, they stayed in Tallahassee, where (Fun fact: Scott was a full time radio DJ for two years) they both worked for Leon ARC and Leon County Schools for many years before "coming home" to the Tampa Bay area in 1999. Zack was born in Brandon and is a long time player on the Tigers. They now reside in Plant City and keep close contact with their parents and all of their siblings. Scott works in IT for Marriott Vacations Worldwide  and Kathy works as a computer field tech for Hillsborough County Schools.
Sponsor Spotlight 
Mallory and Steve Gerstein
After participating in Buddy Baseball as an announcer and part of the setup crew, Steve decided to further help by making monetary donations.  It was suggested that for what they were donating, they could sponsor a team instead.  The Gerstein's decided to do that and they have been honored to sponsor several different teams during the past two years.  "Every time we see our names on the back of the team's shirts, it makes us happy that we were able to make a contribution to the joy that our team's players, buddies, coaches and parents have being part of the Buddy Baseball program.  My favorite memory as a team sponsor was the day that everyone on the team signed the team ball and presented it to us!  It was a wonderful experience and that ball now sits prominently on the desk in our home office.  In addition, team pictures with both the Thunder and Scorpions grace the credenza in our living room!"
First Pitch
Deven Anderson and Eric Schneider threw out the first pitch at a Steinbrenner High School baseball game a short time back. Deven is 15 years old and attends Pepin Academies - Pasco Campus. His buddy Eric is also 15 and attends Steinbrenner High School. Thanks to the Steinbrenner team for inviting us. We had more first pitches scheduled at other high schools until school was cancelled.
Contact Us
(813) 416-5742
Until next time...   PLAY BALL!!

Russ Oberbroeckling
Executive Director
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