Nate Orluk of Granby (left) and Jon Wilson of East Granby helped lead the Simsbury American Legion Baseball Team to a Zone 1 Championship this summer and both were awarded the 2019 Elmer Vincent Scholarship Award.
Orluk currently plays at Williams College and Wilson plays at the University of Southern Maine. Presented by Simsbury Legion General Manager Tim Vincent (Elmer’s son) and Simsbury Legion Coach Tom Vincent Jr. (Elmer’s grandson), the Elmer Vincent Scholarship Fund was established in 2003 and is presented to a Legion player who throughout his career has displayed the attributes Elmer loved most about his players—hard work, dedication to the program, respect for his opponents, loyalty and support for his teammates, and sportsmanship.
Elmer Vincent’s service to baseball was legendary in Simsbury. After playing semi-pro ball himself, Vincent served the Simsbury Little League as coach, president and commissioner for 24 years; managed the Simsbury Legion Baseball team for almost 20 years; and served as assistant coach of the Simsbury High School team. He was instrumental in building four fields at the Simsbury Little League complex and the renovation of Memorial Baseball Field. The road leading into Memorial Field is named Elmer’s Way in his honor.