Every year, both the children and the parents look forward to the end of season “Awards Night”.  This is a very special evening for everyone who participates in the Sunshine Baseball League. 

The Sunshine Baseball League is a program in which individuals with special needs starting at age 5 and up through adulthood get the chance to come together as a team and be cheered on to greatness.  The league is committed to creating an environment that is family-friendly, safe and fun.  The league also stresses the idea of participation over competition.  Every player gets to bat, field and run the bases. Balls & strikes are not counted and victories come in the form of achievement and involvement in the game.  There are three absolute rules, be safe, have fun, and everyone gets to play ball.

The evening is a special event for the children in this league as this night is all about them. The end of season awards night is held at the Royal Palm Beach Recreation Center and as parents, siblings, relatives started to arrive, the children get so excited to see the trophies on the tables, as well as their friends and teammates.

Each parent was also given a raffle ticket for their child to the “Miami Marlin’s Ticket Giveaway” and a chance to win two tickets to any Miami Marlins home game of their choice, donated by the Tyler McLellan Foundation. 

The guests then sat down and enjoyed a special dinner of “Park Avenue BBQ“ (donated by an anonymous donor) salads and a variety of cookies and cake along with water and soda for everyone.

The evening continued with Ms. Sheryl Sawyer Program Supervisor for the Village of Royal Palm Beach welcoming everyone and acknowledging and thanking the sponsors, volunteers, parents, along with the family and friends who came out on Friday evenings to support and cheer on these kids.

Then comes the highlight of the night, the trophy presentation, with Program Director Sheryl Sawyer and Recreation Leader Mr. Tedrick Patterson (who did a great job this year taking over the reins on making this league run smoothly every Friday night in season) passing out the trophies to the kids.  First, they acknowledged the volunteers who stepped up and received a Certificate of Appreciation as well as a trophy for all the help and assistance they provide for this league, and then it was the players turn, with each participant receiving a Certificate of Achievement as well as their trophy.

Ending the evening was the “Miami Marlins Ticket Giveaway” where Brody Klemann was the lucky winner of the two tickets to the Miami Marlins game of his choice.

The League and Awards Night is presented by the Village of Royal Palm Beach Park & Recreation Department and sponsored and supported by: The Village of Royal Palm Beach, The Asphalt Angels Car Club, The Tyler McLellan Foundation, Outback Steakhouse, Bru’s Room, Nick Healton & Family, and the many families who’s’ children play in the league.