Both teams exemplify the values and sportsmanship of Little League Baseball and Softball.
Honolulu (Hawaii) Little League and Peachtree City (Ga.) Little League have been named the co-recipients of the 2018 Jack Losch Little League Baseball® World Series Team Sportsmanship Award. This year marks the first time in the award’s 15-year history that there have been two teams presented with the award.
“The amount of sportsmanship, character, and respect that these two teams have displayed throughout this World Series has truly been remarkable and fully exemplifies the values and spirit that the award represents,” said Stephen D. Keener, Little League President and CEO. “We are honored to present this award to both teams and hope their display of sportsmanship will continue to inspire local Little League programs around the world.”
Voted on by the 16 participating teams, coaches, team hosts, volunteers, members of the media, and the staff within the Dr. Creighton J. Hale International Grove, the Jack Losch Little League Baseball World Series Team Sportsmanship Award recognizes the team that exemplifies a tremendous amount of sportsmanship both on and off the field, including the team’s time in the dormitories, dining hall, and interview room as well as their performance on the field.
Throughout the entire Little League Baseball World Series, Honolulu Little League and Peachtree City Little League have exemplified tremendous displays of sportsmanship, both on and off the field. Following the news that Hurricane Lane was closing in on the state of Hawaii, Peachtree City Little League made a donation on behalf of Honolulu Little League to the hurricane relief fund for Hawaii.
In response to finding out about the donation, the Honolulu Little League team shared a special moment prior to their game by presenting members of Peachtree City Little League with Hawaiian leis to thank them and wish them luck prior to taking the field for the United States Championship game.
“We wanted to say thank you to Georgia for such a selfless act making that donation for us and we wanted to let them know that we wish them the best before the game,” said Gerald Oda, Honolulu Little League Manager. “It really has been an honor to play this game with Georgia and we wanted to show our appreciation. We call it aloha spirit, they call it southern hospitality. It’s the same thing. They are great people.”
About Jack Losch
As a boy, Jack Losch was the center fielder on the first Little League Baseball World Championship team in 1947. As a young man, he established football rushing marks that continue to be in the record books today at the University of Miami where he was an All-American as a senior in 1955. A year later, he became the first Little League Baseball World Series participant to play a professional sport when he was selected in the first round of the National Football League amateur draft by the Green Bay Packers. In 2004, the Jack Losch Little League Baseball World Series Team Sportsmanship Award was established and is presented to a Series team each year that best exemplifies the spirit that Mr. Losch displayed both on and off the playing field.
Previous Recipients
- 2004-Kutno LL, Kutno, Poland
- 2005-Whalley LL, Surrey, B.C., Canada
- 2006-Whalley LL, Surrey, B.C., Canada
- 2007 -Windmills Alpeldoorn (Netherlands) LL
- 2008-Edogawa Minami LL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2009-Hastings Community LL, Vancouver, B.C.
- 2010-Edogawa Minami LL, Tokyo, Japan
- 2011-Hamamatsu Minami LL, Hamanatsu City, Japan
- 2012-Lugazi LL, Lugazi, Uganda
- 2013-Perth Metro Central LL, Perth, Australia
- 2014-Coquivacoa LL, Maracaibo, Venezuela
- 2015-Webb City LL, Webb City, Mo.
- 2016-Maine-Endwell LL, Endwell, N.Y.
- 2017-Hills LL, Sydney, Australia