MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL, MN – Play Ball! Minnesota and the Minnesota All Sports Alliance (formerly Minnesota Minute Men) are proud to announce the winners of the 2019 Play Ball! Minnesota Mr. Baseball and Ms. Softball awards.

Mr. Baseball is Drew Gilbert, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder from Stillwater Area High School. Gilbert was selected by the Twins in the 35th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft.

Ms. Softball is McKayla Armbruster, a right-handed pitcher from Faribault High School.

Award finalists and winners were selected by a panel of high school and college coaches, as well as professional scouts, and represent the finest senior players in the state. Athletic and character attributes, as well as season accomplishments, were considered by award voters.

Gilbert and Armbruster were recognized during a luncheon today at Target Field, and will be honored by the Twins by throwing out a first pitch before an upcoming 2019 home game. The winners are also featured on a plaque located in Target Field’s Town Ball Tavern.

Other 2019 Mr. Baseball finalists were: Will Anderson (St. Michael-Albertville High School), Will Frisch (Stillwater Area High School), Adam Mazur (Woodbury High School), Ben Pedersen (Marshall School, Duluth), Trent Schoeberl (White Bear Lake Area High School) and Evan Shaw (Fridley High School).

Other 2019 Ms. Softball finalists were: Claire Bakkestuen (Forest Lake High School), Holly Blaska (Champlin Park High School), Torri Chute (Stillwater Area High School), Ava Dueck (Maple Grove High School), Olivia Hazelbaker (Farmington High School) and Bryanna Olson (Park High School).

Play Ball! Minnesota is an initiative of the Minnesota Twins Community Fund, and was organized to promote and improve baseball and softball in the Upper Midwest.

Governed by a public board of directors, the Twins Community Fund was chartered as an independent public charity in 1991 with the mission to enrich local and regional communities by providing resources for the healthy development of children and families through an association with baseball, softball and the Minnesota Twins. The Twins Community Fund is supported in part by Target, US Bank, Treasure Island and Delta Airlines.

Since 1954 the Minnesota All Sports Alliance has been involved in the Minnesota sports community. The group is well known for spear heading sales of more than $1.2 million dollars in A2 bonds that led to building the Metropolitan stadium. They continue to raise awareness and resources for amateur athletes.