A walk-off double was just what the Cockeysville Orioles needed to break open a tie game and become the champions of the Cockeysville and Carroll Manor 11/12 league. It was an exciting ride during the playoffs for the team, which was led by head coaches David Turlington and Don Bowden, and assistant coaches Andrew Hahn and Craig Dubois. The Orioles players are Elijah Bullock, Michael Caldwell, Samuel Caldwell, Caden Dubois, Jacob Hahn, Tyler Jacobs, Garrett Kossoff, Bray Lippenholz, James Northey, Henry Oh, Eric Sidle and Omar Staton. Coach Dave and Coach Don, both veterans of the Cockeysville baseball program, recently came back to coaching, for which both the boys and their parents were very appreciative. Congratulations to all on a great season and finishing as champs!
In addition, Orioles player Jacob Hahn was the recipient of the 2016 Stevie Hansen award. The award is named for Stevie, a former Cockeysville baseball player who lost his battle with brain cancer in May 2007. Stevie was a longtime player in the Cockeysville league, even during his five-year battle with cancer. Stevie was signed up to play in the 11/12 league when the cancer returned and he passed away at the age of 12. The award is now given annually to a player in the 11/12 league who best represents the type of individual that Stevie was: brave, respectful, never quitting, great attitude, supportive, loyal and with great sportsmanship. The criteria for the award was actually developed by one of Stevie's former teammates. Congratulations to Jacob for exhibiting such wonderful characteristics and being such a terrific teammate.
The end of the school year is always a little bittersweet and even more so for schools as they bid fond farewells to retiring teachers. Ellen Thompson, a special educator at Warren Elementary School for the past 20 years, is retiring after more than 35 years with Baltimore County Public Schools. Janis Holler, from Cockeysville Middle School, is retiring after 27 years of teaching in county schools. Mrs. Holler is a reading and language arts teacher who had been the sixth-grade team leader as well.
Dulaney High School celebrates the retirement of Brian Bruneau, the Technology Education department chair, who just finished his 11th year at Dulaney and 21 years of teaching. Also retiring from Dulaney are Carol Ann Leyh, administrative secretary and chief Dulaney High historian for 30-plus years and a 45-year veteran of the county school system. Art teacher Jim Kuhlman, who has 42 years in the system and 20 at Dulaney, also is retiring, as is Ken Shearman, who has taught art for the past 19 years at Dulaney and 39 as a teacher. Also retiring is Sharon Beylin, a special educator who is finishing 12 years at Dulaney and a 20-year teaching career. Good luck to all the retirees and thank you for serving our children so well.