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Fagnan honoured by NCABL

Westlock’s Dean Fagnan was recognized for his lifelong dedication to the game of baseball with the North Central Baseball League’s Ken Schultz Memorial Award last month.
fagnan award
Westlock’s Dean Fagnan was recognized for his lifelong dedication to the game of baseball with the North Central Baseball League’s Ken Schultz Memorial Award last month. Fagnan joins other local baseball greats who have received the award including Chuck Keller, John Golinowski and Dwaine Jolliffe.

 Westlock’s Dean Fagnan was recognized for his lifelong dedication to the game of baseball with the North Central Baseball League’s Ken Schultz Memorial Award last month. Fagnan joins other local baseball greats who have received the award including Chuck Keller, John Golinowski and Dwaine Jolliffe.Westlock’s Dean Fagnan was recognized for his lifelong dedication to the game of baseball with the North Central Baseball League’s Ken Schultz Memorial Award last month. Fagnan joins other local baseball greats who have received the award including Chuck Keller, John Golinowski and Dwaine Jolliffe.

Visit the Keller Field baseball diamond in Mountie Park on any given day of the week during the summer and you’re sure to see Dean Fagnan there.

The local R.F. Staples School teacher was assistant manager for the Westlock Red Lions this year and a frequent starter on the field for the elder Grey Lions. The North Central Alberta Baseball League recognized Fagnan for his dedication to the game of baseball late last month with an award as the league playoffs wound down.

Fagnan was presented with the Ken Schultz Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Baseball prior to the first game of the NCABL finals between the Sherwood Park Athletics and Edmonton Blackhawks Aug. 24.

“I love the game, it’s always been a passion of mine,” said Fagnan after receiving the award. “I love that I still get a chance to play and get out there and help the young guys.”

“I’m very honoured, looking at the people who have won this in the past, especially the guys from Westlock —the Chuck Kellers, the Rick Provencals, the Dwaine Jolliffes and Ray Senkoes — those guys have always kind of paved the way and provided an opportunity for me to play the game and love it, so it’s an honour.”

NCABL commissioner Paul Riopel explained the Ken Schultz Memorial Award is presented to an individual, who in the committee’s estimation, has made a major impact in the game of baseball over the course of an extended period of time. The committee takes into account the individual’s leadership skills, their contribution to their community in respect to elevating the profile of the game, organizing the game at a grassroots level, as well as the achievement of those efforts.

“We looked at Dean’s personal contributions in all of those areas, including his stints in heading up minor baseball, actively participating in its summer camps programs and being a star in Westlock for almost two decades,” said Riopel.

“In my estimation Dean Fagnan epitomized, and was a truly deserving candidate for that award. That award has gone to the stalwarts and only the stalwarts of our communities. He’s a builder, a promoter and an educator, and we sum it all up by saying they are the qualified pillars of the NCABL as an institution of baseball.”

Riopel credited people like Fagnan promoting the game in Westlock throughout the years, which despite being the smallest market team in the league, is consistently successful, making the playoffs on a regular basis and winning the league championship as the Red Lions 18 times since 1975.

“Westlock right now, holds the distinction as being the only team classified as a rural franchise in the NCABL, said Riopel. “I think they have build within their organization a strong community bond. The Westlock Red Lions are known as more than a baseball team, they are a representative team, regardless of the sport, of the entire success and image of the town of Westlock.”

Riopel continued, saying the team projects the image of Westlock as a progressive community, a winning community and a striving community, always striving to be better.

“As a result of that they have always demonstrated on the field with a class that is to be recognized as something very worthy of a championship team. They win and lose while still holding their high. They have that aura about them,” said Riopel.

“I’ve looked back at some of these leaders at the top of the proud Red Lion franchise and I say no flagrant weaknesses, just strong, community-minded men who have always been proud members of the Red Lions and worn the uniform equally proudly.”

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