The Newburgh Free Academy Softball team recently received the 2019 Bernie Berman Softball Sportsmanship Award. The award is voted on each year by a group of umpires who witness a wide range of games and is given to a team that shows great sportsmanship on the Varsity, JV, and Modified levels by the players, coaches, and fans.

Bernie Berman started High School Softball group many years ago. He also taught many the art of umpiring, including Bobby Moran and Andy Schuman who presented the award to the team. Bernie always stressed sportsmanship, which was more important to him than winning.

“He was very important to me, so a couple of years after he died, I came up with the Sportsmanship Award and the E-board agreed,” said Bobby Moran, umpire.

The NFA Softball team is coached by Coach Chris Leggett and Coach William Parks.