A Lake Cowichan instructor has been named Baseball B.C.’s first-ever coach of the year.
And no one was more shocked with the accolade than the winner.
“I had no clue,” said Karen Hoskins, who not only coaches kids’ ball, but is also the president of the Lake Cowichan and District Minor Baseball Association.
Hoskins said she felt a little uncomfortable when she learned earlier this week that she was being honoured.
“I was embarrassed,” said the 37-year-old mom of two young boys, who also call her “coach.”
“I’m not the person who likes to get the recognition, I just do my part and that’s all it is.”
Baseball B.C. sent out a notice earlier this year asking for nominations for the award.
Hoskins, who runs a daycare, is also involved in hockey, and was almost a shoo-in for the award, said Ryan Watters, of Baseball B.C.
“There are baseball coaches, then there’s Karen Hoskins of Lake Cowichan,” he said.
“I can’t tell you how many candidates we had, but the cool thing is we had candidates from across the province and at different age groups.”
The things that tipped the scales in Hoskins’ favour for the first Coach of the Year honours are her commitment to the game and the kids she coaches, said Watters.
“They are second-to-none,” he said.
“What she does in the community for the baseball program and for her kids is simply awesome —the hours of volunteer time she puts in is unbelievable.”
Watters said a call for coach of the year would go out again next year.
“Once again it will be following the summer season across the province and a call out will be made on the Baseball B.C. website and social media channels,” he said.
To hear audio of Hoskins when she is told of the win, go to baseball.bc.ca.