KAU Little League names District 28 honorees

Posted by Press Release on December 10, 2014

KAU Little League honored its 2014 award winners at the recent District 28 Baseball and Softball Banquet. Pictured left to right are: Andrea Prestianne and Carleigh Smith, Umpires of the Year; Bob Regenye, Volunteer of the Year; Dylan Blackburn, Baseball Sportsman of the Year; and Olivia Cresta and Madison Hostetler, Softball Sportswomen of the Year.

The KAU Little League recently honored its 2014 District 28 award winners. Each year, the District — which includes Little Leagues from throughout Chester County —recognizes players, parents, and other volunteers from every league for their achievements, sportsmanship, and dedication to their respective teams and organizations. KAU Little League players — who range in age from four to 18 — attend primarily schools in the Unionville-Chadds Ford and Kennett Consolidated School Districts.

Dylan Blackburn, a seventh-grader at Charles F. Patton Middle School, was named the baseball Sportsperson of the Year for his leadership and sportsmanship. Despite suffering a hand injury early in the season and being unable to play, Blackburn was on the bench at all his team’s games to support his teammates.

Blackburn has played baseball at KAU for six years and has been named to all-star teams for four. The 12-year-old plays ice hockey for the Patton Middle School team and the Chester County Skating Club. He is the son of Kristen and Scott Blackburn of Pocopson Township.

Olivia Cresta and Madison Hostetler were named Sportspersons of the Year for softball. Cresta began playing baseball at KAU when she was seven years old and switched to softball two years later. A three-time KAU softball all-star and a member of the Patton Middle School squad, she also plays basketball for URA and St. Pat’s CYO team. She coaches the Kennett Titans’ football 7- and 8-year-old cheerleaders and volunteers at Pocopson Founders’ Day each year.

Cresta, an eighth-grader at Charles F. Patton Middle School, is the daughter of Karen and Michael Cresta of Pocopson Township. Hostetler started her affiliation with KAU in t-ball in 2006 and was named to several all-star teams after making the switch to softball. She is an eighth-grader at St. Cornelius Catholic School in Chadds Ford Township, where she participates in CYO track and school musicals. She is the daughter of Kelly and Doug Hostetler of New Garden Township.

Carleigh Smith and Andrea Prestianne, “big sisters” who volunteered their time during their younger brothers’ baseball games, were selected as Umpires of the Year. Smith is a freshman at Kennett Area Senior High School. She has played softball at KAU for eight years and previously for the Kennett Middle School team. The 14-year-old is the daughter of Brian and Debbie Smith of Kennett Township.

Prestianne played softball for KAU for seven years. An eighth-grader at the Kennett Middle School, she played basketball, softball, and volleyball for KMS. The 13-year-old is the daughter of Michael and Maureen Prestianne of New Garden Township.

Named as Volunteer of the Year was Bob Regenye. Known as “Coach Grandpa,” Regenye has actively volunteered in the recent renovation of the KAU instructional shed. As well, he has used his skills as a woodcraftsman to create many necessary items for the fields, including bat racks. Most importantly, Regenye relishes using his roles as scorekeeper and all-around volunteer for both recreational and all-star teams to instill in players the “right way” to play baseball, such as dressing properly, respecting the traditions of the game, and how to conduct themselves in the dugout and on the field.

He is a third-generation KAUer, as his son, Brian, is a manager and his grandchildren, Jack, Sean and Sara play in the league. Regenye and his wife Carol have lived in the Kennett Square area for 28 years, most recently at the Traditions at Longwood Community in East Marlborough Township. He serves as chairman of the Architectural Committee, head of the Tennis Club, and a member of the Facilities Committee.