Dedication pays off.

It has in the form of Butler County Area Legion baseball league $1,000 scholarship awards for Meridian’s Robert Stamm, Butler City’s Josh Friel and Center Township’s Mike Hepler.

All three are versatile players on the field and quality people off it, Butler City manager Jerry Piroch said.

“The league managers get together and decide who wins these scholarships,” Piroch said. “The criteria is the kid must be in his last year of Legion ball, be going to college and play ball with his heart.

“It goes to kids who don’t miss practices or games without a good reason. All three of these kids were leaders on their respective teams.”

This is the seventh year the BCAL has presented a scholarship award. It is the first time three players received the honors.

Friel allowed three earned runs on the season as a pitcher. He’s also played center field, left field, shortstop and third base for Butler City.

“He struck out 17 and pitched a one-hitter against Meridian in his first pitching appearance of the season — and we lost,” Piroch said.

Friel attends Butler County Community College and plays baseball for the Pioneers.

“It’s rewarding to see the time you put in pay off,” Friel said of the scholarship award. “I loved playing Legion ball. It was relaxing and fun just playing baseball with and against guys you know.

“I never felt uptight about playing any game here and Coach Piroch is the most intense coach I’ve ever played for.”

Friel, 19, played five years for Butler City.

“He put on this uniform for me more times than any player I’ve ever had,” Piroch said.

Hepler’s older brother, Randy, was named BCAL Player of the Year a few years ago.

Like Friel, he was a versatile player who pitched, caught, played center field “or wherever I needed him,” Center Township manager Doug Culbertson said.

“He led by example. That kid just loves playing baseball,” Culbertson added.

“Mike Hepler is a poster child for American Legion baseball,” Piroch chimed in.

Hepler plans to attend Butler County Community College and study social work.

“Legion ball is a good gathering of friends every other night,” Hepler said. “This isn’t a competitive league, but it’s a good league.

“If you love baseball like I do, it’s a great league.”

Stamm played third base, shortstop and first base in addition to being one of the BCAL’s top pitchers for Meridian.

He hit .342 and led his team with 22 RBI.

“He was our leader all year ... just a great kid,” Meridian manager Butch Master said.

Stamm plans to attend Waynesburg University, play baseball there and major in sports broadcasting.

He enjoyed the neighborhood aspect of the BCAL.

“Every time you had a game, you knew somebody on the other team personally,” Stamm said. “It was a good time every night because of that.

“None of us will play in a league like that again. Darn right, I’m gonna miss this.”