Tuesday morning, West Coast League Commissioner Rob Neyer announced three more annual awards: Executive of the Year, Mike Parker Broadcaster of the Year, and Scorekeeper of the Year.
This year’s Executive of the Year is Stephanie Morrell, the general manager of the Bellingham Bells since 2016, has been instrumental in guiding her teams to the playoffs seven times during her tenure. This summer, in addition to yet another playoff spot for the Bells, she successfully oversaw the return of the WCL’s All-Star Game, which garnered widespread acclaim. The League’s Board of Directors has named her the Executive of the Year in recognition of her exceptional leadership and her dedication to the Whatcom County community.
“We don’t have just one model organization in the West Coast League,” said Commissioner Rob Neyer. “Rather, every year we have multiple candidates for that label, and the Bells are always one of them. This summer the Bells were successful, as usual, both on the field and at the gate. And somehow Stephanie added a perfect All-Star Game and related events to the mix in Bellingham. It’s difficult to imagine our league without her.”
One year ago, the WCL’s first Broadcaster of the Year Award went to Corvallis’s legendary Mike Parker. This year, the award carries Parker’s name, with Joel Norman of the Wenatchee AppleSox being named Mike Parker Broadcaster of the Year. Joel has just completed his sixth season with the team, broadcasting all home and road games. In 2019, Norman made a splash in Wenatchee with his book One Inning at a Time: 20 Years of Wenatchee AppleSox Baseball.
“It’s an honor to receive this award,” Joel said today, “and be mentioned in the same breath as Mike Parker, whose résumé speaks for itself. It’s a blessing and a pleasure to spend summers in the Pacific Northwest working for an outstanding organization like the Wenatchee AppleSox, and watching so many future stars in the West Coast League.”
Nanaimo’s Don Millar has been recognized as WCL Scorer of the Year for his unwavering commitment to accuracy and fairness in scorekeeping. Stephen Gall, the League’s Pointstreak/scorekeeping administrator, said of Don, “He has a total commitment to accuracy, his attention to detail is outstanding, and he’ll even look at other games around the league and offer to help.”
The West Coast League congratulates these outstanding individuals for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the league. Their dedication not only enhances the quality of the games on the field, but also enriches the experience for the legion of WCL fans around the world.
About the West Coast League: The West Coast League is western North America’s premier summer collegiate baseball league. Encompassing Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and Alberta, the WCL showcases pro prospects from major collegiate conferences around the nation. Every summer, the League features unparalleled fan and player experiences, with tremendous baseball weather and a mix of classic and modern ballparks, all backdropped by the sport’s most stunning scenery. MLB’s 2024 amateur draft opened with former Corvallis Knight Travis Bazzana selected as the overall No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Guardians, and this summer’s WCL All-Star Game aired live on MLB Network.
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