The 2019 League MVP award goes to Bryson Ford, infielder with the Badlands Big Sticks. Bryson, who attends Tusculum University, led the League in batting average (.421), runs scored (76) and triples (10). He was second in the League in RBI with 61 and fourth in home runs with 11. Bryson also stole 28 bases during the season. “Bryson did everything for us this year, not only leading the league in most offensive categories but his versatility on defense allowed us to move people around all summer”, Big Sticks Head Coach Hayden Pewitt said. “He hit anywhere 1-4 in our lineup and started games at 6 different positions throughout the summer. His value offensively and versatility defensively made everyone’s jobs easier.” 

The Expedition League’s Al Wagner Memorial Coach of the Year award is named in honor of Expedition League founder and president Steve Wagner’s dad, Al, who served the United States selflessly for nearly four years in World War II while stationed in Europe and North Africa and was awarded two Purple Hearts for being wounded twice and a Bronze Star for heroic service in a combat zone. The Expedition League 2019 Coach of the Year winner is Hayden Pewitt, Head Coach of the Badlands Big Sticks. Hayden guided the Big Sticks to a 48-20 record while winning the Expedition League championship with a 2-1 League Championship Series victory over the Western Nebraska Pioneers. Big Sticks Owner Dave Ouellette commented, “Hayden did an amazing job managing our team this year. He made sure all players got their needed at-bats and innings on the mound, which is very difficult to do when chasing a championship. The way he managed the players but also had a personal relationship with them is not easy to do and he did a great job of balancing that part of the game. Hayden and GM Jason Watson did a fantastic job of putting together a great team on the field but an even better job of putting together a team of great guys off the field who did countless community service events in the Dickinson area while becoming adopted loved ones to their host families. Every "day off" the Big Sticks had was used to include the team in a community event and bring awareness to the program. Hayden is very deserving of this award and we are very lucky to have him on our side.”