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Belmont baseball, softball receive honorable mention for WIAA Sportsmanship Awards
Belmont fans
Belmont baseball, softball receive honorable mention for WIAA Sportsmanship Awards

STEVENS POINT --— Belmont athletics had an exceptional spring season on the baseball and softball diamonds in 2019. 

The Braves’ baseball team made a special postseason run, defeating both De Soto and Bangor on June 5 to win the WIAA Division 5 Riverdale Sectional and earn the school’s first trip to the WIAA State Baseball Tournament. Belmont finished the season a week later with a 6–2 loss to eventual state runner-up Mineral Point in the D4 semifinals. 

The Belmont softball team won the WIAA Division 5 state championships with a 7–1 victory over Blair–Taylor on June 8 and finished its storybook season with 26–1 overall record.

Recently both Belmont programs, and their fans, were recognized with a pair of off-field awards as each received honorable mention for the WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award at their respective state tournaments.

“It’s an honor to be recognized by the WIAA for sportsmanship in both baseball and softball in the same year,” said Belmont principal and athletic director Rich Moyer. “The recognition supports the sportsmanship displayed by every student athlete, coach, parent and fan that attends or participates in Belmont co-curricular activities.  We are proud of this accomplishment.”  

Belmont was one of nine schools to received honorable mention at the state baseball tournament, along with  Antigo, Boyceville, Fond du Lac, Markesan, Ozaukee, Stratford, Webster and West De Pere.

Union Grove was the 2019 Sportsmanship award winner for baseball. The Broncos also won the softball Sportsmanship Award in 2007. The Broncos’ and their fans endured the postponement of their semifinal game a day because of a lengthy rain delay. They advanced to the Division 2 championship game with a 6-1 victory over McFarland, and finished State runner-up following an 8-3 loss to Antigo in the final.

Belmont was one of 14 schools that received honorable mention for the Sportsmanship Award at this year’s state softball tournament along with Blair-Taylor, Campbellsport, Chippewa Falls, Ellsworth, Gilman, Kenosha Bradford/Reuther, Prescott, Pulaski, Seymour, Southern Door, Thorp, Tri-County and Waukesha North.

Mishicot was the 2019 Sportsmanship Award winner for softball. Mishicot demonstrated positive and respectful enthusiasm in its two games at the Softball State Tournament en route to a runner-up finish in Division 4. It’s the first time the Indians have been chosen as the recipient of the award in any sport.

“The support for co-curricular activities in Belmont is nothing short of amazing,” added Moyer. “Whether it’s a play, musical performance, fund raiser or an athletic event, the students, staff and community in Belmont are always supporting each other in a positive manner, that exemplifies school pride.”

The WIAA/Rural Mutual Insurance Sportsmanship Award is presented to one school and community in each of the State team tournaments. The award winners are determined by the conduct and sportsmanship displayed by athletes, coaches, cheer and support groups, mascots, bands and spectators. Additional consideration is given for the effort of school administrators and chaperones to insure support for their teams are positive and that the highest ideals of sportsmanship are upheld. Award winners receive a plaque and banner in recognition of the honor. Schools receiving honorable mention are acknowledged with a certificate of recognition.

Rural Mutual Insurance has sponsored the Sportsmanship Award program for 54 years.