ESTEVAN - Estevan Minor Baseball recognized the efforts of one of its most dedicated volunteers during the opening ceremonies of the provincial tournaments happening in the city.
Jen Lozinski tossed the ceremonial opening pitch during the ceremonies, with her son Pierce – a member of the Estevan U18 AA Tier 6 Blazers – catching the ball. The two embraced afterwards. A plaque honouring Lozinski was unveiled on minor ball's Wall of Fame.
Lozinski joined Estevan Minor Baseball in 2013 as the director for tee-ball. She remained on the board over the years as the division director from 11-and-under to 18U. Eventually, she added the registration director role.
"Estevan Minor Baseball registers approximately 300 children and 60 coaches each year, and along with the registration, Jen looks after our diamond scheduling, social media, e-mail messages and awards day," said opening ceremonies MC Kevin Sliva.
She was also active as a nine-and-under coach and a big contributor to moving beginner groups into the rally cap program. She ran the Estevan Minor Ball 11U league from 2015-2018. This year she joined the executive for the Moose Mountain Minor Baseball League and helped facilitate the leagues for all minor age groups in southeast Saskatchewan.
This year she is also the 18U director, the rally cap supervisor and looks after the house leagues.
"Jen is a very proud member of Estevan Minor Baseball and is thankful for the generous support of our community. She is honoured to be part of such a small, hard-working committee that has accomplished amazing things," said Sliva.
Jen and her husband Dave have three children, two boys who have been in minor baseball and a daughter who plays softball. She is grateful that all ages are able to enjoy the game of baseball in the community, and Sliva said watching kids learn and play a sport they love is the greatest reward for all of her time spent volunteering.
"Jen is appreciative of all of the people she has met and volunteered with over the years with Estevan Minor Baseball, and plans to continue building and improving programs for the next generation of players," said Sliva.
Estevan is hosting the Baseball Sask. 13U AA Tier 5, 18U AA Tier 5 and 18U AA Tier 6 provincials from July 26-28. Twenty-one teams are in the Energy City for the event. Lozinsky has taken an active role in working with all of the teams entered in the tournament.
