Fastball St. Albert has awarded this year's Matt Edwards Memorial Heart and Hustle Scholarship to local athlete Ella Shoults.
She was recognized not only for her dedication to the sport but her commitment to her teammates and community.
The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually at the FSA Best of the West Tournament, which took place June 27-29 this year. The award was presented by Matt's daughter and Angel alumni, Teslyn Edwards.
"We knew him as a friend, a coach and a volunteer," said Shawna Wasylyshyn, director at large for the association. "Matt was so much more. He was a husband, a father, son and friend to so many outside of our organization as well. Our association worked with his family in hopes of developing an award to honour him, and thus the Matt Edwards Memorial Heart and Hustle Scholarship was formed."
In partnership with the Edwards family, the association created the scholarship to recognize players who embody the same values Matt demonstrated both on and off the field.
"In honour of Matt, the criteria for his heart and hustle scholarship award include being an Angel for at least two years, being accepted into a post-secondary institution," said Wasylyshyn. "And most importantly, must demonstrate hard work and hustle on the field and in the dugout."
Shoults, who grew up playing softball with the St. Albert Angels, continues her fastball career with the Leduc Jets after the Angels program no longer offered a team in her age group.
"I found a really great program in Leduc and I have a great set of teammates over there," said Shoults. "I had a really great program at Angels, but we just didn't have a team, so we just kind of moved to Leduc, and it was a really fun switch, and I've been there for three years now."
She is currently helping coach the U11 Leduc Jets. Next year, Shoults will be attending Mount Royal University in Calgary to study education.
"I really enjoy playing the game, obviously, and seeing these littles grow up in the sport that I loved, and it was really cool," said Shoults. "I really like developing kids and seeing how far they can go from there."
She credits her coaches and parents for helping shape her into the player and teammate she is today.
"My coaches, they were the key part, they were the motivation behind everything," said Shoults. "My parents, too, they always put that spirit in me of helping others and being a team player."
She said she was surprised and honoured to receive the scholarship award.
"I was told 30 minutes ago, I was, I didn't even know I was under consideration for it, but I'm very proud to receive it," Shoults said. "It means a lot because I've never been the absolute best player on my team, but I've had a lot of good moments with helping my teammates out, with just cheering them up, or doing the absolute best I could for everyone I could."
Wasylyshyn said Shoults was selected after her coach, Adam Ducarme, nominated her for the award.
"We believe that Ella is a shining example of the heart of hustle that we all remember Matt having," said Wasylyshyn.
