TRENTON, NJ…East North Carolina Softball State Commissioner Jesse P. Whitley, of Robersonville, North Carolina, has been awarded the annual Babe Ruth Softball Volunteer of the Year Award. Selected from among over one million volunteers throughout the United States and Canada, Whitley was chosen to receive the prestigious award due to his outstanding contributions to the Babe Ruth Softball program and the youth it represents.

President/CEO Ron Tellefsen said, "The Babe Ruth Softball Volunteer of the Year is the highest award given in Babe Ruth Softball. Its recipient must embody the spirit of the Babe Ruth League philosophy, which is to provide the best possible sports experience for every child that has the desire to play and to promote participation and opportunity. Jesse Whitley admirably and enthusiastically exemplifies that philosophy."

Prior to her untimely passing, Softball National Commissioner Jaime Horn praised Whitley's dedication to the Babe Ruth Softball program. It was her wish that Jesse be the recipient of this special honor for 2004.

Under Whitley's leadership, Eastern North Carolina has become one of the leading state organizations in Babe Ruth Softball and continues to grow. He never asks anyone to do anything he won't do, or hasn't already done himself. His enthusiasm for the program is highly contagious. Whitley is committed to making sure all potential softball participants in Eastern North Carolina are given the opportunity to play. He continually reminds the leagues and commissioners in his state that the most important level of play is local league play.

Babe Ruth League, Inc. is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to developing better citizens by providing properly supervised baseball and softball competition for 5 through 18-year-old players.  It is the basic intent of Babe Ruth League, Inc. that every candidate be given the opportunity to play in the program.