2024 Scholarship Presentation at Blue Cross Park

Every year, all of us at Baseball Manitoba look forward to presenting our scholarships at Blue Cross Park. Last night, five Baseball Manitoba Scholarships, the Andrew Budge Memorial Scholarship, and three Field of Dreams Scholarships were presented to all recipients before the Goldeyes faced off against the Gary Southshore Railcats.

Learn more about the winners below:

Baseball Manitoba Scholarships:

Awarded To/Accepted on Behalf Of Lucas Lyons - Access Credit Union Player (Non-Provincial Team) Scholarship

Photo left to right: Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Chloe Lyons, Lucas' sister, Curt Letkeman, Access Credit Union Board Chair. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

Lucas is a Winnipeg athlete who exemplifies leadership and a strong work ethic. He began playing baseball at the age of 9 and has built up not only his skills, but also his friendships along the way. He participated in the 18U Western Championships in 2022, and in 2023 he was picked up for 18U Nationals in Fort McMurray, and his 19U Homerun Sports Academy team won the Theo Gibbs Memorial baseball tournament in Regina, Saskatchewan. In 2024, he played on the 18U AAA Elmwood Giants team. This fall, he is attending Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, North Dakota, where he will be playing college baseball while studying Mathematics.  

Thank you to Access Credit Union for sponsoring this scholarship! 

Awarded To/Accepted on Behalf Of Connor Martin - On Deck Custom Apparel Provincial Team Player Scholarship

Photo left to right: Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Erica Martin, Connor's mother, Isla Ramon, Amos' daughter, Amos Ramon, owner of On Deck Custom Apparel. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

From Nesbitt, Manitoba, Connor is a talented multi-sport athlete, but he lives and breathes baseball. Over the last few years, Connor has played on multiple baseball teams, including the 18U AAA Oildome team, the Boissevain/Wawanesa High-School team, the Boissevain 18U and Senior teams, and the Baseball Manitoba 17U Youth Provincial Team. This fall, he is attending Valley City University studying Agribusiness and pursuing baseball at a college level.

Thank you to On Deck Custom Apparel for sponsoring this scholarship! 

Awarded To/Accepted on Behalf Of Leah Peitsch - On Deck Custom Apparel Female Player Scholarship

Photo left to right: Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Leah Peitsch, Isla Ramon, Amos' daughter, Amos Ramon, owner of On Deck Custom Apparel. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

Leah is one of the top female baseball athletes in Manitoba. She was the 2021 Winnipeg South Female Player of the Year, the 2022 Baseball Manitoba Female Player of the Year, and played on multiple Baseball Manitoba Female Provincial Teams in 2023 and 2024. She is also a valued Baseball Manitoba clinician and volunteer, helping to run events like Baseball Manitoba’s all-girls spring baseball camp. This fall, she is attending the University of Manitoba with an interest in sports psychology.

Thank you to On Deck Custom Apparel for sponsoring this scholarship! 

Awarded To/Accepted on Behalf Of Landon Gudnason - On Deck Custom Apparel Coach Scholarship

Photo left to right: Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Angie and Robert Gudnason, Landon's parents, Isla Ramon, Amos' daughter, Amos Ramon, owner of On Deck Custom Apparel. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

From Glenboro, Manitoba, Landon is a coach for the Pembina Hills 15U AAA team. He enjoys being involved in his community, volunteering countless hours of his time to coaching, scorekeeping, and officiating sports like baseball, basketball, and volleyball. In 2024, when he wasn’t coaching, he dedicated his time to maintaining the ball diamonds in his hometown. He also played Junior baseball for the Altona Bisons and Senior baseball for the Baldur Regals. This fall, he is attending Danville Area Community College to play college-level ball and to pursue an Education Degree, intending to return to rural Manitoba as a teacher once he graduates.

Thank you to On Deck Custom Apparel for sponsoring this scholarship! 

Awarded To/Accepted on Behalf Of Rory McCallum - Baseball Manitoba Umpire Scholarship

Photo left to right: Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Rory McCallum. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

Rory started his baseball career as an athlete at the age of 11, playing in his house league, Brandon Minor Baseball. He began umpiring six years ago, and during that time he proved himself to be a reliable and respected member of the Baseball Manitoba Umpire community. He advanced to a Level 3 umpire in 2024, officiating high-school, minor, and senior baseball. He also participated in Baseball Manitoba’s Umpire Mentorship Program. This fall, he is attending Brandon University School of Music to pursue a Bachelor of Music and Education Degree, with a Minor in History.

Andrew Budge Memorial Scholarship - Awarded To/Accepted on Behalf Of Aiden Mackenzie:

 

Photo left to right: Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Wendy Budge, Andrew Budge's mother; Aiden Mackenzie. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

From Headingley, Manitoba, Aiden is an impressive AAA athlete for both the St. James A’s and the North Winnipeg Pirates and has been a member of the Home Run Sports Training Centre since the age of 13. Recently, he has also begun his coaching career as an Assistant Coach of the 15U AAA St. James A’s, and in 2024, received the St James Minor Baseball Association Coaches Award for his passion for, and dedication to, baseball. This fall, he is attending the University of Lethbridge, studying towards a Bachelor of Kinesiology Degree, while also playing at a college level with Prairie Baseball Academy Dawgs.

The Andrew Budge Memorial Scholarship is open to students entering the first year of a full-time post-secondary program at an accredited university or college. Andrew Budge was a talented Manitoba athlete from Winnipeg South who passed away suddenly in 2010 at the age of 24. Hockey, curling, golf, and of course, baseball were among his interests, and it was his passion and love for sport that inspired the creation of this scholarship. All of us at Baseball Manitoba want to thank Andrew’s mother, Wendy Budge, for coming to the event and presenting this scholarship.

Winnipeg Goldeyes - Baseball Manitoba "Field of Dreams" Scholarships:

Awarded To/Accepted on Behalf Of Austin Quark - Field of Dreams Scholarship

Photo left to right: Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Andrew Collier, GM of the Winnipeg Goldeyes; Tony Fletcher, President of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation; Marcie and Tom Quark, Austin's parents. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

Austin is a Baseball Manitoba Provincial Team and AAA League athlete and a Winnipeg South umpire. In 2023, his team won the 18U AAA Tier 1 Provincial Championships, and he was selected as an umpire for the 2024 Manitoba Games in Dauphin. In 2024, he earned a reputation as one of the most valued umpires in his area, officiating more games than any other Winnipeg South umpire this season. This fall, he is attending Eastern University to complete a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.

Awarded To/Accepted on Behalf Of Callum Rice Craw - Field of Dreams Scholarship

Photo left to right: Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Andrew Collier, GM of the Winnipeg Goldeyes; Tony Fletcher, President of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation; Callum Rice Craw. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

From Winnipeg South, Callum is a AA athlete who has been playing baseball since the age of 10 and officiating since the age of 12. He is currently a certified Level 3 umpire, and in 2024, he umpired 13U and 15U AAA games as well as 18U A and AA games. He has proven himself as a reliable official who shows up to every game with a positive and respectful attitude. This fall, he is attending the University of Manitoba to study history with the goal of graduating with a Masters Degree, and he intends to continue playing baseball at the 22U AAA level in 2025.

Awarded To/Accepted on Behalf Of Joshua Smeltz - Field of Dreams Scholarship

Photo left to right: Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Andrew Collier, GM of the Winnipeg Goldeyes; Tony Fletcher, President of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation; Joshua Smeltz. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

From Niverville, Manitoba, Joshua has participated in multiple sports since the age of 4. He has competed at a high school and house league level, playing for the Niverville Wildcats for over 10 years. He helped his team win a Provincial title in 2017 and the Carillon league in 2023. He has also invested in his community by scorekeeping, coaching, and officiating within his area. This fall, he is attending the University of Manitoba with a direct entry to the Faculty of Science. He plans to incorporate his love and knowledge of sports into his future career.

Photo left to right: Chloe Lyons, Lucas Lyon's sister; Curt Letkeman, Access Credit Union Board Chair; Erica Martin, Connor Martin's mother; Leah Peitsch; Angie and Robert Gudnason, Landon Gudnason's parents; Amos Ramon, owner of On Deck Custom Apparel, Isla Ramon, Amos' daughter; Rory McCallum; Wendy Budge, Andrew Budge's mother; Aiden Mackenzie; Marcie and Tom Quark, Austin Quark's parents; Callum Rice Craw; Joshua Smeltz; Roger Langlais, Baseball Manitoba's President; Andrew Collier, GM of the Winnipeg Goldeyes; Tony Fletcher, President of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation. Photo Credit: 1812 Photography

Congratulations to all winners from all of us at Baseball Manitoba! Learn more about our scholarships here.

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