Rich and Donna Van Waalwijk are stepping down from the Newtown Babe Ruth Softball Board of Directors after nine years of service and last month were presented with a service award by NBRS president Cosmo Alberico.

Rich and Donna have both served in many roles throughout their years of service; most recently Donna held the position of secretary and Rich served most recently as treasurer.

“Their outstanding contributions to girls youth softball here in Newtown for such a long period of time has undoubtedly contributed greatly towards our successful growth as a town youth softball program,” said Mr Alberico.

The Van Waalwijks were recognized for outstanding devotion to the league, playing a major role in forming and carrying out the league philosophy which was – and still is – to create a league where any girl, regardless of skill level, who has a desire to play organized softball can have the opportunity to play softball here in her home town.

Newtown Babe Ruth Softball is an organized softball league for girls who reside in Newtown between the ages of 6 and 16. Organized teams compete at both the in-house and travel levels. The league fields an average of 35 in-house teams and four competitive town travel teams from 10-and-under through 16-and-under age levels, which makes it the largest organized girls softball organization in the entire New England region for four years running.