2017 Sports Hero’s Award Winners [PHOTOS + VIDEO]

Four outstanding volunteers on the local sports scene received 2017 Sports Hero's Awards at a special luncheon Monday in downtown Bangor.

Sports Radio 92.9 The Ticket and Hero's Sports Grill partner each year to recognize great volunteers who give their time and talents to help their community sports. It is the fifth year for the awards program.

This year's winner include Tyler Smith (Brewer), Tim and Linda Hodgins (Orrington) and Bernie Oster (Stetson).

Check out their stories of volunteering...

Bernie Oster (Stetson) – Bernie is one of the biggest supporters, cheerleaders and volunteers of Special Olympics in the state of Maine. She spends countless hours making sure Special Olympians are afforded opportunities to sporting and social events in our area. One of the big events is the Summer Games in Orono each June. Bernie helps with communication to athletes, coaches and other volunteers. She helps with the Athletes Village that provides social activities for the athletes. If it’s planning events, rules, training, Bernie is there to help. Bernie lives with husband, Dan, and son Chris, who is an accomplished Special Olympics athlete.

Tyler Smith (Brewer) – Tyler is one of those volunteers who goes ‘above and beyond’ to make sure kids in Brewer have lots of opportunities in various sports. He has coached Pee-Wee basketball. He founded the Brewer Travel Basketball program, and as president, Tyler organizes tryouts, runs the clock, and helps keep the scorebook on Sundays. He schedules games, gets referees, and cleans up after events. Tyler has served on the Bangor YMCA board of directors. He has served as Brewer Little League president. He volunteers to run the clock at middle school and high school soccer and basketball games.

Tim & Linda Hodgins (Orrington) – This mother and son combo has been a fixture in volunteering in youth sports in Orrington. Linda, perhaps better known in the community as ‘Coach Shorty’, started coaching youth softball back in the 1980s. She ran the concession stand and helped with anything that needed to get done. Her son Tim has that same gift of volunteering. He served on the Orrington Recreation Committee, coached soccer, and served as Fundraising Coordinator for Orrington Little League. Tim also officiates basketball games in the winter for the recreation department.