DATE: 4/8/2019
Matt Miller Named 2019 Recipient of the John Simpers Award
(Pictured: Matt Miller, left, and Robert Riale, right)
John Simpers exemplified service to his community through his leadership and support of the amateur baseball umpire associations he helped organize, lead, and sustain for nearly five decades.
The Kutcher Foundation hopes to build on his legacy by honoring one person each year who exemplifies John’s commitment to service in Harford County’s amateur baseball community.
The 2019 recipient was Matt Miller (pictured above) who was given the award by the inaugural winner from 2018, Robert Riale.
“It’s a great honor to receive this recognition”, says Miller. “My goal has always been to help grow the sport of baseball in the County, while giving back my time to help make our league a stronger, better, and more fun league to play in. It’s very rewarding to look at our growth over the years, and to see everyone’s excitement with the start of each new season.”
Riale, who was there to present the award in place of Kutcher Foundation President, John Kutcher, had this to say about Miller.
“Matt Miller is a Very Deserving recipient of the John Simpers Award. I have been associated with Matt for quite some time and without him much of this would fall on deaf ears.”
In addition to the award being presented to Miller, Joe Mundo, an up and coming umpire, was selected by Riale to receive a full set of umpiring gear that will allow him to begin his journey into the field of umpiring in and around Harford County.
Mundo (pictured below) of Edgewood, is currently a freshman at Harford Technical High School and is enrolled in the Auto Collision Repair Program.
(Pictured left to right: Robert Stroup, Joe Mundo, and Jim Cunius)
Mundo hopes to develop his umpiring skills and looks forward to the day where he can umpire a game at the Ripken Experience in Aberdeen Maryland. He was shocked, thrilled and thankful to be recognized for his aspirations and cannot wait to try on his new gear!
More about John Simpers: John’s service was instrumental in establishing a top tier high school umpiring program, including the recruiting, training, scheduling, and management for our county’s youth as well as the famed Susquehanna League. His love of the game translated in a desire for every player to have a positive experience, from the starting shortstop to the bench player hoping to get on the field. John went the extra mile to make a difference in the lives and experiences of those around him, through his passion for baseball, softball, and umpiring; and to the young players competing on the field.