2020 AND 2021 SIMPERS HONOREES AWARDED
On March 24, 2021, at the dedication for Alumni Field at Kutcher Foundation Stadium, the 2020 and 2021 John Simpers Baseball Service Award winners were honored.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no opportunity to formally honor the 2020 winner, Ray Laird.
Laird has over 40 years of involvement in baseball throughout Harford County. He graduated from North Harford High School, and after his playing days, he became an avid umpire that has continued to mentor young kids in the profession. Laird has worked in baseball at both the high school and NCAA levels.
2021 award winner, Chris Benjes, was also honored at the dedication. Benjes, a John Carroll alum, oversees Forest Hill Rec Baseball.
“Chris’s commitment to create a competitive and fair playing environment gave us opportunities to play travel baseball”, said Tim Kutcher. “Those opportunities started opening up some of the doors early on that fortunately lead to my baseball career at John Carroll and into college”.
The Kutcher Foundation will provide a stipend to Benjes and Forest Hill Rec Baseball, so that new umpire equipment can be provided to upcoming youth umpire, Sean Donovan.
Donovan has been a Forest Hill umpire for four years, and always volunteers for field setup and tournament games.
Harrison Swartz
Director of PR/Communications and Events