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Rene Leveret

Professional baseball player Rene Leveret of South Reward is The Daily Herald’s Sportsman of the Year for 2014.  Leveret is not only an athlete; he is an unofficial ambassador for the Friendly Island, a role model and a true competitor. The first baseman who also can play left field signed a five-year deal with the Twins just a few months before his 18th birthday in 2003.
  His pro career started that year in the Dominican Republic summer league. Leveret played in 66 games. He finished with a .335 average.  The 6-foot-2, 224-pounder recorded 233 “at bat.” He scored 27 runs and connected for 78 hits. He hit 21 doubles and six home runs. “Everyone in the organization tells me I could be in the major leagues in two to three years,” Leveret was quoted back then.
  In the fall he was back in the Dominican Republic for instructional league. “I led the league in batting,” said Leveret. “I hit .410 and had four home runs.” His star was rising.
  Leveret was promoted and sent to spring training in the United States when an injury threatened to sideline him. Leveret was playing first-base. He stretched to grab an off-the-mark throw. The batter ran into Leveret’s outstretched arm.  He had to undergo surgery and was expected to be out for the entire season, but he followed doctor’s orders, trained hard and returned to work ahead of schedule, proving his mettle. That season he went on to connect for eight home-runs and he helped the Elizabethton Twins win the Appalachian League Championship and earn the first of his many rings.
   Leveret continued to improve. He was named Most Valuable Player in the Dominican Republic Summer League and in the States was selected for the Appalachian All Star Team. He was rated number 17 of the top 100 prospects. It appeared a call up to the majors was close on the horizon.
  Disaster struck again during spring training. Leveret was in the outfield. A ball was hit shallow. Leveret charged hard and made a diving catch. He re-injured his arm and his chances to reach the Major League were gone. Yet Leveret did not give up.  He returned to rehab and looked for another team. He was picked up by the Independent Canadian American League playing for the Quebec Capitals.
  Leveret has always recognized the importance of giving back. From the very start of his career, every time he returned to the Friendly Island he visited the local ball fields and talked with the children. He talked about the need for discipline, good grades in school and most important the hard work of practicing regularly. He did not stop there. He wanted to help young ball players become the best they could be. He arranged for members of the Capitals to visit the Friendly Island and scout the local talent.
  This past year he brought several pro players to the island and ran a two-day camp to help train the youth. Nearly 100 local athletes, ages seven and up, attended the “Rene Leveret and Friends Pro Ball Player Training Camp” at John Cooper Jose Lake Sr. Ballpark.  The camp ran for two days and featured local players Mark Ramirez, who has been signed with the Marlins; Dudley Leonora who is signed with the Orioles and Felix Brown who played in university for the French national team and pro-ball in Hawaii.  Also helping were Leveret’s teammate Pat Daoust from Canada, who catches for the Capitals and Bryan Sabatella from the United States who played against Leveret for the New Jersey Jackals and local physical therapist Kuinsy Hunt.
  Leveret also gives back to non-baseball groups. He has helped the Keys to Freedom Foundation drug rehabilitation program. He organized both clothing and food drives. This year between seasons he and his friends, including Miguel De Weever, helped out some basketball players. They painted the lines on two different courts. They started work at the court at Ruby Labega Primary School in St. Peters. “Kids need rules,” explained Leveret.  “The lines are an important part of the game.”
  All the while Leveret continued to train hard and help the Capitals win championships. Leveret has been credited with being in the top five most productive offensive players in the 15-year history of the Capitals.
  Leveret’s undisputed talent was mentioned in an article on the Capital’s website where manager Patrick Scalabrini praised his attributes. “With an average 87 hits per season since his arrival with the Quebec Capitals, and a personal high of 71 RBIs in 2013, Rene Leveret was a certain shoo-in for Manager Patrick Scalabrini,” the writer states. “The best hitter nicknamed ‘Can Am’ for the past two seasons will be in Scalabrini’s line-up for a fifth consecutive season. The return of the resident of the Dutch Antilles was welcomed and the desire to be in the team mutual by both parties.”
  Said Scalabrini; “Every year he is one of the best in the league and a big part of our offensive strategy with his RBIs and batting average. He’s a good, dependable veteran and actually does more in keeping the team united.”  Leveret’s power-batting average dropped to 292 in 2013, but he still managed to drive in 71 runs and scored 11, himself off 96 hits.
  All the while Leveret has promoted the Friendly Island. He wore St. Maarten T-shirts, sent out holiday messages with pictures of sunny beach while reminding his teammates they shoveled snow as he spent the winter on a warm beach. Working with the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau, Leveret even arranged for ‘Destination St. Maarten’ to be one of the featured promotions at the Capitals’ ballpark.
  Leveret also made the French national team with two other local players and competed in the European Championship in Germany. Leveret blasted six homeruns in the five games. After the competition he worked with the St. Maarten Pony League to help selectors from France scout several prospects here.
  More exciting international pro ball looms large on Leveret’s horizon. He is currently in talks to play in Japan and recently was interviewed in that country about his upcoming prospects. As always he managed to promote the Friendly Island even though on the other side of the world.
  For his dedication to his sport, for his hard work, his desire to help others and for his smiling ability to promote the Friendly Island wherever he goes, Rene Leveret is The Daily Herald’s Sportsman of the Year for 2014.