BaseballSoftballUK is excited to announce this year’s shortlisted candidates for the 2022 British Baseball and Softball Coaching Awards, presented by Baseball Outlet! A high number of strong nominations were received, and candidates have now been shortlisted in each of the seven categories.

The winners will be revealed on BaseballSoftballUK’s social media this week, with the announcements taking place at 7 PM GMT as follows:

  • Tuesday – Youth Baseball Coach of the Year and Adult Baseball Coach of the Year.
  • Wednesday - Youth Softball Coach of the Year and Adult Softball Coach of the Year
  • Thursday - Volunteer of the Year + Young Coach of the Year
  • Friday - Services to Coaching

Don’t miss any of the announcements - make sure to follow BSUK on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

Here are the shortlisted nominees:

Baseball Youth Coach of the Year

Given to an outstanding contributor to coaching young people in baseball in Great Britain in 2021.

  • Paul Smith, Hartlepool Seals
  • Will Zucker, Herts Baseball Club
  • Scott Bourgeois, London Youth Baseball League

Softball Youth Coach of the Year

Given to an outstanding contributor to coaching young people in softball in Great Britain in 2021.

  • Julie Spittle, GB Cubs
  • Holly Ireland, RBI Wales
  • Natalie Fox, Lytham St Annes Softball Club

Baseball Adult Coach of the Year

Given to an outstanding contributor to adult baseball coaching in Great Britain in 2021.

  • Cole Ryan - London Capitals Baseball Team
  • Martin Andrews - Leicester Diamonds Baseball Club
  • Ruari Dunn - Baseball Scotland & Edinburgh Cannons
  • Rhodri Theaker - Bristol Baseball Club

Softball Adult Coach of the Year

Given to an outstanding contributor to adult softball coaching in Great Britain in 2021.

  • Leanne Plummer, Leicester Royals Softball Club
  • Trevor Sykes, Coventry Blitz Softball Club
  • Adam Bee, Milton Keynes Softball Club

Young Coach of the Year

Given to an outstanding young coach under the age of 25 who has contributed to baseball or softball coaching in Great Britain in 2021.

  • Jess Vernon, Belles Baseball/Bracknell Baseball & Softball Club/GB Baseball/Team UK Baseball
  • Pau Miquel Mir, Bristol Baseball Club
  • Rose Bhanji, London Mets Baseball & Softball Club

Volunteer of the Year

This award is for a volunteer in a non-coaching role who has given up a substantial amount of time to support their local club, team or league and who has made a significant impact on the development of our sports.

  • Alan Le Marquand, BSUK Academy Softball/Windsor & Maidenhead Softball League/GB Softball/Maidenhead Softball Club
  • Amanda “Doris” Hocking, WB-UK
  • Christian Carter, Kent Buccaneers & British Baseball Federation
  • Kellie Whitaker, Manchester Thunder Softball & GB Softball

Services to Coaching

This award is for the individual who best personifies what it means to be a baseball or softball coach over a long period of time: someone who understands their sport and can use the lessons learned on the pitch to motivate and engage others. They have probably played a great number of roles, and without their services to coaching, your club, your league or perhaps even your national team wouldn’t be the same.

  • Ian Tomlin, GB Softball U-18 & U-23 Teams
  • Hollie Ireland, RBI Wales
  • Chris Ward, Guildford Mavericks/Belles Baseball Team/GB U-12 Programme