Dean Sproule of Niverville was recently honoured with the Grassroots Coach of the Year from Baseball Manitoba for his work with the 14U Manitoba girls team.

Sproule has been coaching baseball for nine years with various teams, including in Niverville, with the Carillon High Performance baseball program, and most recently the provincial Girls baseball program. A veteran in coaching, Sproule understands that having a team that is committed but can also have fun are a few of the things that can drive a successful season.

“The team really came around as the year progressed,” he says. “Early in the year, we weren’t convinced we would have had the success that we had, but as a team we put in a tremendous amount of dedication and hard work and we saw the team continue to get better and better as the year progressed, culminating in the silver medal at the Western Championships.”

Sproule wasn’t the only one recognized from the team this past season. The whole team was also named Grassroots Team of the Year.

“Being recognized as the Manitoba Grassroots Coach of the Year to me is a byproduct of having a great group of girls that worked hard, resulting in a successful year,” says Sproule. “They made it a pleasure for me to put the time in that is required of a baseball coach.”

The team not only attended their normal practices and games throughout the season, they also showed their dedication by holding a development weekend in Niverville, where they sharpened their skills and faced off in a doubleheader against the Carillon Peewee Prospects.

For Sproule, the true reward for a coach is seeing his players succeed and having fun while playing. But he is quick to give credit where it is due, praising his fellow staff—assistant coach Chad Foster; Patti Haucult, who is one of the founders of the girl’s baseball program; as well as team manager Vanessa Gorham.

“I was beyond elated and appreciative of being recognized with this award. It was a nice gesture, to say the least!” Sproule says. “I feel it would be an honour to continue to build on that progress and continue on as their coach for this coming year.”