Softball coach Aaron Northrup speaks to the crowd at the North Bay Girls Softball Association Banquet. He spoke to the crowd about the tragic death of one of his players and the creation of a new memorial award in her name. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
The North Bay Girls Softball Association Banquet usually is a celebration of the end of another fun season, and a night of fellowship.
But at this banquet the focus was on Brienne Longpre, a 17-year-old player with the Urban Cafe Bantam/Midget team.
Longpre passed away on Tuesday night in a tragic ATV crash in Northern B.C.
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Despite the sad news, the team and the association came together quickly to memorialize their fallen friend.
Prior to the dinner, Brienne’s coach Aaron Northrup announced to the crowd at the Best Western that a Brienne Longpre Memorial Award had been created along with a $250 education bursary.
Kayla Hawkins with her Brienne Longpre Memorial Award. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
“I hope every year, whoever the winner is for the next 50 years, appreciates this and learns a little bit about Brienne, and who she was and what she meant to everybody,” said Northrup about the new Memorial Award.
“The idea is to recognize someone who is in post secondary or who is about to go into post secondary that shows leadership throughout the association and within the community, it’s a nice way of recognizing Brienne.”
Lisa Hotte taught Brienne at Ecole Secondaire Algonquin. As a fastball player herself, Hotte was thrilled to find out about the award as she and Northrup presented the inaugural award to Kayla Hawkins.
“I think it’s outstanding, I think it’s beautiful, and it doesn’t surprise me with this community,” she said.
“This association is great for helping kids in many ways and just acknowledging her, it’s perfect actually.”
Teammate Daniella Northrup, sporting a “Brienne Longpre Forever” T-shirt, fought through the tears to talk about her fallen friend during her speech representing the team.
“Brienne had a smile like no other, whether we were winning 10-0 or losing 10-0 she kept our team going and was always in constant supply of funny jokes and solid chirps for our two wonderful coaches,” Daniella said.
“It was an honour getting to know her and this one is for you kid. Rest easy.”
Daniella Northrup speaks to the crowd about her teammate. PHOTO BY CHRIS DAWSON.
Aaron Northrup is a North Bay Police officer, and had to notify many of the players and families about the tragic news. He believes the Longpre family, who was not in attendance, will be pleased with the creation of this new award.
“They seem to be very involved with their daughter, their father Vince was at all the ball games to cheer her on,” he said.
“It just seems like a great family and I hope and I think they will appreciate this.”
