Sports

Minnesota Twins Recognize St. Michael Baseball Coach

St. Michael-Albertville Youth Baseball coach and director Scott Morris earns Youth Baseball Coaching Award

Each summer, Scott Morris’ family grows from its nucleus of the faces he normally sees at home to the more than 1,000 boys and girls he sees as the director St. Michael-Albertville Youth Baseball.

Morris, who came up through the ranks playing baseball in Dassel-Cokato, has been in St. Michael for more than a decade now, and on the board for six years.

“It’s still hard for me, sometimes, not to see St. Michael as a rival, because they were for so many years,” Morris said.

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Now, he’s the face of St. Michael baseball, showing up at city council meetings and leading a youth boys’ team at 11AAA.

“The program has just grown so much under Scott, it’s great to see,” said Marc Weigle, Community Development director for City of St. Michael.

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During his involvement, Morris has seen involvement grow in the sport, from about 600 kids less than a decade ago to more than 1,000, as mentioned, in 2011. Though other sports have emerged, such as soccer (est. 1999) and lacrosse (which has grown the last two years), baseball continues to do more than hold its own.

“I think we have great volunteers, and kids who want to be involved,” Morris said. “That’s a great combination.”

Morris received a call from the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday, July 19, letting him know he’d been recognized with a Twins Youth Baseball Coaching Award. He was told he’d be presented the award at the July 22 game vs. Detroit.

“I couldn’t believe it. Just a neat surprise,” Morris said.

He was nominated by a man most consider the “father” of youth baseball in STMA, Jon Wilkens.

“He’s the foundation of all this,” Morris said. “It was so great to read the nomination. Just classy.”

The Twins recognized Morris at home plate, with both John and Scott on the diamond. They also had a video tribute, with photos of both of Scott’s boys.

“They really personalized it. It was just a great moment. It says a lot about the Twins organization and the stock they put into youth baseball. That focus is so important.”


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