Last year, Brandon varsity baseball coach Ron Wagner started a new award to honor the persistence and work ethic of one of his coaches.
Thus, the Mark Hein Award was born, given to a player that Wagner said ‘works hard every day with no complaining, and is a true team player.?
This year’s award was given to recently graduated senior catcher Ray Reynolds, who was named an Honorable Mention All-League selection and also saw time pitching for the Blackhawks this season. Last season, Mark Butzu won the inaugural award.
Hein, an Oxford resident who uses a wheelchair as a result of polio, was the pitching coach for the varsity team this year after working in the same capacity for the junior varsity team last season.
‘He comes to practice every day with no complaints, and works hard every day developing the players? abilities,? Wagner said.
Hein said he has been coaching youth baseball and football for about 30 years in Lake Orion, Oxford, and Warren. He said he continues to stay involved with coaching because he enjoys working with young people.
In addition, Hein said he will be helping with Brandon’s summer baseball teams to help build up the overall Brandon baseball program.