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25

Mar, 2023

Sofia Padua wins 2023 Kelsey Oonk Sportsmanship Award

We are thrilled to announce that Sofia Padua is our 2023 Kelsey Oonk Sportsmanship Award recipient. Sofia is an amazing part of the SDLL Softball community and we are so happy for her to receive this award.

One of her nominators wrote, "
I would like to nominate Sofia Padua for the Kelsey Oonk Sportsmanship Award. I have had the pleasure of knowing Sofia—or Gilber as she is affectionately known by her teammates—for many years. I was privileged to coach her in Fall 2022, and quickly recognized her as a team leader for her ability to step up and perform on the field, her willingness to push her boundaries and learn new things, and her elevating the play for all those around her. She works hard at every practice, plays wherever she is assigned, and does so with a tremendous skill. She accepts constructive criticism well, respects her coaches, and is kind and friendly to her teammates. Sofia is a silent leader who speaks softly but carries a big stick (or bat, as it were). I offer my complete recommendation for Sofia to be named this year’s annual 2023 Kelsey Oonk Sportsmanship Award. Thank you for this opportunity to nominate a deserving young athlete."

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.

Sofia is the second recipient of the Kelsey Oonk Sportsmanship Award, joining
Annemarie Camacho-Montero who won the award in 2022.
Many thanks also to Card My Yard of Chapel Hill for sponsoring the 2023 Kelsey Oonk Award.

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