In 2022, the SDLL Board of Directors decided to create a sportsmanship award specifically for softball players. The award was named in honor of Kelsey Oonk, current VP - Softball and 12U softball coach. Kelsey has been instrumental in not only bringing softball to SDLL, but also expanding softball within our league. The award recognizes a league age 12 softball player for exhibiting the Little League values of character, courage and loyalty based upon how the player has conducted himself or herself over the seasons, including the player’s sportsmanship, teamwork and overall love of softball.

We are proud to announce that our 2022 award winner is ANNEMARIE CAMACHO-MONTERO. One coach was quoted as saying “Annemarie played in the inaugural season of SDLL Softball—while COVID took her away from SDLL for a couple of seasons, we were so happy to welcome her back this past fall. Annemarie is a kind and respectful teammate to all. She is extremely coachable and always receptive to feedback on the field, regardless of whether her team is winning or losing. She is incredibly levelheaded and reliable, and I have never seen her attitude or approach to the game waver, even when placed in challenging on-field scenarios. As a coach, she is truly a joy to have on your team. It has also been fun to watch her spread her love of softball to her younger sister, Lola—she is always cheering her on at games and practicing with her outside of SDLL events."

Annemarie is our inaugural winner of the Kelsey Oonk Sportsmanship Award; she is paving the way for many future softball players! Congratulations to Annemarie and her family, from ALL of your fellow SDLL players and their families.

Many thanks also to Card My Yard of Chapel Hill for sponsoring the 2022 Kelsey Oonk Award.