A former two-term president of the Saskatoon Minor Softball League is the 2022 recipient of the Darren Lipinski Memorial Award.

Vanessa Kosteroski is being honoured for her outstanding contribution to softball in Saskatoon, especially in the S-M-S-L. The award has been given out annually since 1975. Following is the news release from the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association…..

^{Vanessa Kosteroski – 2022 Darren Lipinski Memorial Award}

The Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association has a long and proud tradition in softball.  Thus, it is important to acknowledge those who have contributed greatly to creating that tradition. The Darren Lipinski Memorial award was established in 1975 by Peter and Ellen Lipinski in memory of their son, to be awarded annually by the Saskatoon Amateur Softball Association to an individual(s) for outstanding contribution to softball in Saskatoon. This is one of the longest lasting awards presentations in amateur sport in Saskatoon.  Past recipients of the award serve on the selection committee to choose the succeeding winners.  Peter and Ellen have both since passed away, but members of their family were planning to be in attendance.

1998 – Member of the Laser Zone Executive as a member at large

1999 – 2002 – Treasurer of Laser Zone Executive

2003 – 2005 – Volunteered as Team Manager for involving her 2 kids (Brayden & Danielle)

2006 – 2008 – Commissioner for Laser’s Zone so started being involved in the SMSL

2009 – Served part of year as the Chair of the Selects committee

2009 – 2012 – Elected as the President of SMSL, followed by 2 years serving as Past-President

2017 – present – Elected again as President of SMSL and intends to serve another 2 years

2009 – present – Served on various Canadian and World Championship Host Committees, mainly looking after the social events or the Volunteer recruitment area

Vanessa has volunteered for many years for the betterment of softball in Saskatoon and through her leadership, has helped promote the sport at the entry level including implementing:

• An overall review of SMSL in governance and operations
• Implementing the recommendations from the governance and operations review
• Updated bylaws and alignment of member zones bylaws to SMSL
• Encouraged indoor training for all age groups in minor softball. Occurring at Indoor Training Facility from U5 to U17 players
• Started a new Fall Softball League in 2021 that was successful and will continue to offer to age groups U11, 13, 15, 17 girls and added boys in 2022 with U11 and 13 age groups
• Lead SMSL through 2 years of Covid
• 2019 had a very successful Minor Softball Night highlighting the U6 kids and had to take a time out during covid but brought back in 2022 with record number of 33 U7 teams participating and total of 351 players
• Led SMSL through zone boundary changes for 2022 year
• SMSL hosts numerous Provincial Championships yearly and involves our zones and extra volunteers to host these events.