It is very hard to think of Montezuma baseball without mentioning Donnie McNett. Donnie has played an instrumental role throughout the Braves organization as well as the RCBL. Donnie has been a Braves Board member since 1995. When the Briery Branch Braves disbanded in 1999, Donnie took over as team president in 2000 of the newly formed Montezuma Braves. Donnie served on many RCBL committees in the late 90s and 2000's, and serves today on the scheduling committee. He has made Montezuma Ruritan Park a home for the Area 4 Special Olympics softball team for many years. In 2020 he made the park available for numerous high school, colleges, AAU and RCBL teams for use when no fields were available. Donnie has served most of his life ensuring that there will always be baseball in Montezuma, for its fans, players and most of all the community.
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Laase, the Staunton High School and Strasburg Express head coach, just wanted to get the opportunity to lace his cleats up one more time when the Valley League cancelled their 2020 season. The Bridgewater Reds gave the veteran a chance when they put him on their roster, and he’s exceeded everyone’s expectations. In a league where college players can be the headliners, Laase has shown that playing baseball the right way can lead one to success. Filling in at any role he can, whether at the plate, in the field, or in the dugout, Laase has been an asset for the Reds and the RCBL. He exemplifies what makes this league special. On and off the field, he is a fan favorite for sure. My first experience seeing Laase was when the Reds traveled to Buck Bowman park to take on Clover Hill. When Laase singled to right field driving in two runs for Bridgewater, it seemed as if both sides cheered. It’s obvious that George has had a positive impact on the league, its players, and its fans this season. We couldn’t think of anyone better to be the first recipient of such a meaningful award.
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