Kehrer Family Presents Christopher Harbert with Bonn Kehrer Sportsmanship Award
By Julie Perine on June 14, 2016 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Before winding up the 2016 Bridgeport Little League season, Christopher Harbert and his family received a nice surprise.
Stacy, Albert and Brody Kehrer presented Christopher – who pitches and plays first and third bases for Bridgeport Physical Therapy Little League team – with the Bonn Kehrer Sportsmanship Award.
The Harbert family had no idea that Christopher had received the honor, which is awarded annually by the Kehrer family in memory of their son Bonn, who passed away suddenly in May of 2007.
Bonn was only 7 years old, but had already developed a passion for baseball and a dedication for the game. It is the family’s honor to annually bestow the award upon a deserving member of the league.
"Bonn loved baseball and was a great competitor and had wonderful sportsmanship - even at such a young age," Stacey Kehrer said. "It is an honor to be able to give out this award every year in his memory."
Christopher’s mom Denise said she is very proud of him for winning this particular award.
“I told him this was his last year and he had to step up and be a leader,” she said. “The younger boys look up to the older ones. I think he proved that he did just that. I would sit in the bleachers and watch him on first base and he would pat another player with his glove after a nice hit and compliment them. That always put a smile on my face far more than anything else he did.”
Chris Harbert – who is also Christopher’s Little League coach - said his son is a fairly quiet kid who tries to lead mostly by example.
“He would always offer advice or give comfort to the younger kids on the team whether they performed well or not,” he said. “Also, during multiple games - as he played first base - he would compliment kids from the opposing teams for getting a good hit or making a nice play.”
Christopher is competitive, but he never lets that get in the way of doing or saying the right things,” Chris Harbert said.
“I have received multiple compliments on his character this year from opposing players and coaches. I couldn’t be more proud,” he said.
Christopher was excited and very humbled to receive the award. He said he knows that being a good person is more important than being good in sports.
“I think this recognition will reinforce the way he does things and will only help him to follow through with the way he carries himself,” Chris Harbert said.
In recent past years, the Kehrer family has chosen a member of the league to receive the award. This year, that responsibility was entrusted to Little League coaches.
“(Christopher) was the unanimous pick by all the coaches,” Kehrer said. “We heard from them that he is a really great kid, and he definitely has all the attributes of the award: Great sportsmanship, character and leadership.”
The award was presented Friday evening, just before the Little League championship game, which was claimed by Mardon.
Christopher plays for Bridgeport Physical Therapy.
“We did not play for the championship but had a very successful season, due mainly in part to the on field leadership of all the 12-years-olds,” Chris Harbert said. “BPT had a great group of kids this year and it was a privilege to coach them.”
Christopher, who is also a brother to Bridgeport High School junior Victoria Harbert, has participated in organized baseball since the age of 5. He has been on two state championship Little League All-Star teams. He has all so played Jerry West basketball and youth football.
Past recipients of the Bonn Kehrer Sportsmanship Award are Quinten Reep, Trent Tucker, Logan Crayton and Vincenzo Cava, Christian Lehosit, Mackenzie Holmes, Todd Antill, Tristan Knapp and Anthony Belcastro.
Editor's Note: Christopher is shown with Albert, Stacey and Brody Kehrer. Also pictured is Bonn Kehrer at his first Pittsburgh Pirates game and with his twin sister Joplin when they played Harrison County Parks and Recreation baseball.
