Heart and Hustle Award.

Much like every other major sport, burby lends itself to a wide range of players with a wide range of talents. There are guys like Kevin Leach, Art Stoner and Jeff Snow who can throw a tennis ball at unbelievable speeds. Those fireballers have to deal with pure talents at the plate, guys who because of raw power and baseball instincts have a distinct advantage over the rest of the field. Jack Cherry, Steve DiRenzo and super athlete Jeff Snow to name a few.

Well what if you didn't grow up playing in organized leagues? What if you just enjoy being out there with the guys enjoying the game of burby in it's most competitive form? There are alot of players around the TBL who may not have top level talent or pedigree who are valued contributors and difference makers for their teams and our league.

The TBL has awards for pitching, hitting, defense and coaching but what about the intangibles that can't be coached? Perhaps it's time we honor the hustle and heart players whose effort and grit makes them key pieces to their teams success. Here is a look at my early list of contenders for the inagural "Heart and Hustle" award...

Johnny Duco - The Dusters are talented and Duco is no exception. He may not have Toman's arm or Cherry's bat but his level of intensity and effort along with a willingness to do anything coach Cherry asks of him for the good of the team makes him the Dusters unsung hero.

Paul Lindsay - Often overlooked, the lanky lefty is a jack of all trades. He has had struggles at the plate but this former reliever of the year will step up and pitch in tough spots, chase down flyballs furiously and delievered some big at bats these past playoffs.

Adrian Golombek - The commish is a solid ballplayer but this has come with time. His dedication to improvement and success has seen him go from overmatched at times to creating mismatches for the opponent due to his improved hitting, hustle in the outfield and sheer will to win.

Tyler Middlebrook - This was no doubt a man who had a monster rookie year at the plate but what most didn't notice was his strong fielding and leadership ability. He's the first man at the games and the last to leave, lives and breathes the game and the Saints never quit attitude comes from their manager.

Jerome Persaud - Perhaps the very definition of what this award captures. A regular guy who loves sports and loves to be out there with the boys going to battle in the beautiful game. Persaud has gone from a cool dude trying his best to a very valuable asset for the Masons. His fielding was always pretty strong but his desire to improve has made him a real tough out and a clutch hitter.

These are just a few guys who come to mind when I think of "Hustle and Heart" and the ability to lift their own game and the game of those around them with nothing more then their drive and will to win. Don't be surprised if one of the above guys takes home this award next year but here's hoping for the good of our game that several new contenders emerge.

Rob Scotland