Youth 1st Team Award Winners Earn Tickets to Minnesota Twins Game

Owatonna youth baseball and fast pitch softball teams will among those to parade around Target Field on Thursday and Friday before the Twins play the White Sox.

Youth 1st presented Twins tickets to several Owatonna teams during a recognition event at the Steele County Free Fair. Youth 1st partners with Owatonna Parks and Recreation, the Huskies' Bullpen Club, the Owatonna Youth Fast Pitch Softball Association, the Medford Diamond Association, the Farmington Girls Fast Pitch Association and Southern Star Softball.

Teams are rated during the season for their sportsmanship. Coaches and fans are reminded to keep the games in perspective and focus on being good sports and not over-emphasize winning. Respect of officials and opponents is also a part of the effort. Teams that get high ratings are named Real Winning Teams. Youth 1st looks to create a conduct first environment where the focus is on the kids and their enjoyment of participating in sports.

The Minnesota Twins Community Fund provided the game tickets. Youth 1st also works with the Walser Automotive Group, Walser Foundation, Federated Insurance, Pearson, Jostens and Cash Wise Foods.

Youth 1st is based in Owatonna. Their mission statement is "Connecting conduct, character and community through values-based youth development."