San Marino National Little Leaguers Tylie Pellant and Mackenzie Taylor (center) earned the prestigious Courtney A. Miller Spirit Award for their positive attitudes, sportsmanship and team spirit. They’re pictured with SMNLL President Daisy Wilson, Katie Miller, Randy Miller and Jason Rome.
Miller, a former SMNLL softball player, died in 2006 at age 19 after a three-year battle with cancer.
The Courtney Miller Foundation and the Miller family present the award annually to the softball player or players who best exemplify Courtney’s indomitable spirit. Recipients are selected on the basis of their team spirit, enthusiasm, sportsmanship, team contribution, dedication, inspiration and the ability to overcome challenges to participate in SMNLL softball. The award was first presented in 2006.
Tylie began her SMNLL journey as a Rock Hound when she was in kindergartener excited to take the field after watching her brother play the year before. She batted lefty and threw righty — a crafty combination like that of the Dodgers’ Corey Seager and Tylie’s uncle, Kirby. Tylie has been a Durham Bull, a Marlin, a Sun Devil, a Titan, a Hurricane, a Trojan and a Clemson Tiger.
She has a fierce approach to success and takes failure hard, according to her mother, Maren Pellant. Tylie has impressed others with her huge heart, love for her teammates and passion for the game.
Mackenzie started playing in the SMNLL at age 5. While she enjoyed practices and games and played at a high skill level for her age, what she enjoyed most was the interactions with her peers, according to Melissa Taylor, her mother. Mackenzie enjoyed making new friends and spending time with them.
As the years went on and she graduated through Farm, Minors and Majors, her softball skills grew along with her competitiveness. While seeking regular-season championships and participating in postseason play and All-Stars, she showed a strong desire to win. But it was clear that winning alongside her friends is what she enjoyed most.
Courtney, the inspiration for the spirit award, played in San Marino National Little League for five years, beginning in the Pitching Machine Division, and then moved on to Minors Softball. Courtney was selected to the Minors All-Star team — which later became the very first San Marino Softball District champion to qualify and compete at the regional level, launching the SMNLL’s softball program to the level of success it has enjoyed ever since. Many of the girls on that winning team went on to play as Junior All-Stars and in 2001 competed on the first team from San Marino to participate in the National Little League World Series.
Courtney was a gifted athlete, a spirited and positive softball player, an enthusiastic competitor, hard worker, a good friend and teammate, and embodied characteristics valued in SMNLL softball. She continued that spirit and competitiveness in later endeavors at Pasadena Poly and at UC Berkeley. Courtney inspired many in her brave fight against cancer.
SNMLL President Daisy Wilson and softball player agent Jason Rome presented the awards to Taylor and Pellant. Courtney’s father, Randy, and sister, Katie, were present for the awards ceremony.
