Sevier County’s Mike Kremblas a Finalist for Ripken Baseball Youth Coach of the Year Award

Ripken Baseball has announced Mike Kremblas, coach of the Knoxville Stars 9u baseball team, as one of the nine finalists in the 2015 Ripken Baseball Youth Coach of the Year Award.

Together, Ripken Baseball and Baseball America are on a mission to celebrate youth coaches who represent “The Ripken Way” pillars – character, commitment, community, family, fun, integrity, passion, perseverance and teamwork. The winner will be named the 2015 Ripken Baseball Youth Coach of the Year and honored at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn. in December.

Nominated by numerous players and parents, Coach Kremblas has been chosen as a representative of the “teamwork” pillar, including the following nomination:

“Coach Kremblas would rather have ten boys who play like a team than ten All-Star players. He is the best coach of teamwork and commitment to your teammates that I have ever seen. Not only is the 9u Knoxville Stars currently third in the nation with a 40-6 record, but they play with more heart and teamwork that any team out there. We love Coach Mike!”

The winning coach will receive:

• Recognition during a ceremony at the 2015 MLB Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn. (December 7-10)
• Round-trip airfare to Nashville and hotel accommodations
• $100 in merchandise from Ripken Baseball
• A free one-year subscription to Baseball America

The local community and fans can support Coach Kremblas by “Liking” the Ripken Baseball Facebook page and casting their vote on the page’s Coach of the Year tab at https://www.facebook.com/RipkenBaseball; individual votes can be cast once every 24 hours until voting closes on Monday, Aug. 31. The winner of the 2015 Ripken Baseball Youth Coach of the Year Award will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2015.