Florida Travel Ball

Florida Travel Ball’s 1st Annual Awards Banquet will not be an easy act to follow. The event marked the first dinner award banquet in USSSA history and will be remembered as a night filled with smiles and good cheer.

Director, Bert Holloway, led the ceremonies with enthusiasm and charming wit as he introduced the award winners of the 2009 season.  As the players received their awards it was tough to identify them without their uniforms. Wearing slacks, button up shirts, and ties it is difficult to distinguish them apart from cleats and a baseball cap.  They honorably accepted their awards as their parents proudly observed; creating memories that each of them will never forget.  When asked, how you plan on following this year’s banquet, Holloway said, “Just learn what we could have done to make the event even more memorable, and do it next year.”  With Holloway as MC, dedicated players, coaches, and parents of USSSA, that should be an easy goal to fulfill.      

Besides the awards being given to deserving players, the luxurious Renaissance Hotel served an exquisite buffet that had growing athletes making 3 or 4 trip through the lines.  The adults were offered roast beef smothered with brown gravy and grilled chicken breast topped with a white cream sauce.  The kids were served nothing but what they love, hamburgers and chicken fingers, with an untouched salad bar at the end of the buffet; although one player did use some of the lettuce for his burger.   Dinner was followed by the award ceremony and the night concluded with the kids showing off what they got on the dance floor.  Let’s just say thank goodness it was a baseball award ceremony.  The kids had a great time, the parents did yell at the umpires who were in attendance, and it was an event that would motivate any coach or player to strive for the best.

See the 2009 USSSA Award Winners

By: Jeff Hoyle