The Merillon Athletic Association 2013 Joe Roy Coach of the Year Award was presented to Jim Shanter, Vice President of Little League by Merillon President Joe Renta at the league’s parade day festivities on April 6.
Shanter began his Merillon career in 1974 as an infielder on the Minors Division championship team sponsored by the former Franklin National Bank and remained in the league through 1976. He returned to Merillon in 2007, coaching his son Scott in the Lower Farms Division and has since gone on to manage teams in every division of its Little League program with this being his final year in the Majors Division.
Shanter has also coached this year’s Merillon Sharks 12U travel team since the boys were 8 years old.
In 2008, Shanter was elected to the Merillon Board of Directors as Special Events Coordinator. In this capacity, he was responsible for coordinating important league activities throughout the spring baseball season from Opening Day through Championship Saturday.
Shanter also organized several league outings including a Mets game at Shea Stadium and a golf fundraiser at Harbor Links Golf Course in Port Washington.
Shanter is the consummate volunteer who is truly deserving of this award. Besides his duties as Vice President of Little League over the past five years, he always volunteers his time to the league through the coordination of baseball clinics, new player evaluations, travel team tryouts and field maintenance. Shanter also serves on several committees of the Board.
Merillon Chairman Anthony Camilleri stated “On behalf of the league, I want to personally thank Jim for giving so much of his time to our community. I also want to congratulate his son Scott and his mom Minna.”
With his son Scott by his side, Coach Shanter stepped up to the microphone and thanked the board of directors for recognizing him with this award, acknowledging that he was both honored and humbled.
“As I walked up to the stage, I looked down at my son and recalled the day that I first put on a Merillon uniform some 40 years ago. I remember open tryouts at Manor Oaks School as well as playing in my first All-Star game in 1975. Merillon provided me with some of my greatest childhood memories and that’s exactly what I wanted for Scott the day I signed him up to play for this great organization.” Coach Jim’s Noteworthy Achievements:
He won the Boys Upper Farms Division Coaches Achievement Award in 2009 and 2010. Shatner also took the Upper Farms Cardinals to the Division Championship and won the coaches that year.
Shatner also managed teams to second-place finishes in 2011 and 2012. He will manage in the Cooperstown Dreams Park tournament team in Cooperstown this year.
