The John Crawford Volunteerism Award
Our second honoree of our 2025 John Crawford Volunteerism award is Nick Morin-Tylock. In 2025, Nick embodied John’s spirit of volunteerism.
John Crawford did so much for this team in a such a short period of time. This Ames, Iowa resident put his life on hold to welcome a group of Renegades to his home town. He went above and beyond for our squad. Among just some of the stuff John did for us without ever meeting us included, picking up our water and paint before we got to Iowa, taking a week off from work to help us 8 hours a day in the hot sun (temps were in the high 90’s that week). He was everything we needed and so much more. Heck, after the series, he helped redesign our marketing material and paid to print and ship it to Boston.
John lost a battle with Cancer in 2021. We want to keep his memory alive by reminding everyone of his big heart and kind spirit. John is an Angel in our outfield and we are forever grateful for meeting this amazing man!
Being blown away and coming out of nowhere – that’s what this award is about. We want to celebrate volunteers who blew us away during the season and came out of nowhere to do things we needed and they may not have done before.
Nick Morin-Tylock
Entering the 2025 season, we knew we had an important opportunity ahead of us. With Peter Connolly and his wife welcoming their second child, his availability was understandably limited. This created a chance for us to build depth at the spotter position and continue strengthening our coaching staff. At that time, only Bryan Grillo and Gina Devenish had World Series game experience among the available coaches—making growth and development a clear priority. That’s when Nick Morin-Tylock joined the picture.
Back in the fall of 2024, Nick attended a workout and immediately showed interest in what the Renegades were building. After giving him time to consider the commitment, he officially signed on as a volunteer when cage practices began in January. Nick was confident he could be available for World Series travel, and the next step was seeing how he would grow into the role of calling in his first year with the team. Dino Vasile has this to say, “I met Nick at that fall workout and liked him immediately. His nature and positive attitude made me feel comfortable, and it was clear he had the confidence to join our team.”
Nick joined with limited baseball experience, having played some Little League, and came from an ultimate frisbee background. The Renegades have a strong history of success with disc athletes—Ron Cochran and Jamie Dickerson are prime examples, with Dickerson even calling during the 2016 title run. From the start, Nick focused on learning the team defense, no small task considering he had never seen it live and relied mostly on video. He worked closely with Bryan Grillo, Dino Vasile, Gina Devenish, and others, absorbing as much knowledge as possible about calling and defensive strategy.
Nick Morin-Tylock learning the game
Although his primary role was as a spotter, Nick quickly became a versatile and reliable presence. He assisted in the cages with catching, hitting drills, and anything else the team needed. From day one, he embraced the Renegades’ volunteer mindset of, “What do you need me to do today?”
Once practices moved outside, Nick fully committed to mastering the defense. He took thousands of reps throughout the spring and summer, learning to call both sides while focusing heavily on the right side. He was often one of the first people on the field, already taking reps while players stretched. Every practice brought growth—for Nick and for the players learning to trust and work with him. In beep baseball, the spotter truly becomes the eyes of the defense, making trust essential. Dino says,
“He admitted early on that he didn’t know much about the sport, but his energy and willingness to try every part of the game convinced me he was going to be a strong member of our coaching staff. We threw Nick into the fire. With relatively little experience, he started spotting and calling balls in the field. He may have missed a call or two, but he never let that slow him down or shake his confidence. That kind of resilience matters. It’s his positive energy, openness to learning, and willingness to step in wherever and whenever help is needed that makes him deserving of this award.”
Nick even had a chance to talk with the media, something few first year coaches have done in our 25 year history (His voice can be heard at 2:49 in this video).
Nick Morin-Tylock Makes Progress and Earns the Trust of the Players
The role of spotter carries tremendous responsibility. As one of only two sighted people on the field, the spotter provides critical information on hitters, pitch results, and defensive alignment. With only a single call—a number between one and six—and subtle vocal inflection, the spotter sets the entire defense in motion. They must react instantly, adjust on the fly, maintain player safety, and stay completely out of the play. It is one of the most demanding roles on the field.
Nick took on all of this without ever having seen a live game or practice beforehand. While the learning curve was steep, his progress was steady and impressive. His willingness to learn, accept feedback, and improve every day became one of his greatest strengths—and a key asset to the team.
That commitment showed clearly in his attendance. Nick ranked second among sighted coaches in practices attended, behind only the head coach. He made 26 of 33 practices from January through July. That consistency built trust with the players and prepared him for competition. Shawn Devenish says,
“When joining a well established team like the Renegades, it can be a little overwhelming at first. Some coaches have been slightly hesitant to jump into things. This is the polar opposite of Nick. From the first practice he attended, his willingness to be a part of anything and everything on the team was unmatched. As we had a bit of a shortage at the spotter position, Nick saw an opportunity and dove in head first. He spent hours upon hours working with the more veteran spotters to get their input and guidance. Along with that, Nick also went to the veteran players on the defense in order to get a better handle on how the defense worked. Clearly, the reps paid off as at the World Series he was calling in games against defending world champions and high level opponents. Nick’s devotion to the team has greatly impacted many, if not all the players on this team. We hope that his continued efforts help lead us to the places we want to go.”
Game time – Nick takes the field as a caller
Tyler makes his first ever stop with Nick Calling. Chris Kimball and Shawn are on the field with him celebrating
Nick’s first game action came in Woburn during a 19–3 win over the Strong. He took over the right side with a 10–0 lead after three innings, working alongside players learning new positions while he did the same. His first defensive putout call resulted in Elana Regan’s first career stop at midfield. Later in the game, Tyler Mireault recorded the first stop of his career —milestones making the moment more special.
At the team’s second tournament, Nick stepped into an even larger role. With Gina Devenish unavailable, Nick became the starting caller. Joe McCormick has this to say,
“Nick’s progression as a caller throughout his first season was remarkable. Not many volunteers take on an on-field role in their first year, but in classic Nick fashion, he never hesitated to jump into any situation. I remember some early practices where things were a bit rough from a calling perspective, but each week he grew more comfortable and confident. As the season went on, he also bonded more and more with the team, opening up and letting his sense of humor and musical taste shine through. By the time the World Series came around, he was completely at home out there and a natural in the role.”
Nick as the Driver
He also took on additional responsibility as a driver for the team’s 15-passenger vans, navigating a long trip to Philadelphia and back despite limited experience with large vehicles. He called three games on Saturday, then drove the team home—finishing a 19-hour day and returning after 1:00 a.m. His dedication behind the scenes matched what he brought to the field.
Early in the winter, Nick shared his love of sports strategy and his desire to learn beep baseball from the ground up. By season’s end, that growth was undeniable. In the World Series, during a tight double-elimination game against the Philly Fire, Nick was calling the right side with a one-run lead in the final inning. He suggested a defensive shift based on the hitter, and the ball was hit exactly where anticipated. That moment reflected the preparation, instincts, and strategic understanding he developed all season.
Wrapping up Nick’s Growth
Nick, Mac and Thax pose for a shot being named players of the game during the World Series
Nick called in 10 of the team’s 14 games, with the Renegades going 7–3 in those contests. His impact extended far beyond wins and losses. As Luis Soto perfectly summarized:
“From your very first road trip to the World Series you’ve been our guide, our supporter, and one of our biggest believers. Whether it was organizing rides, making sure we had what we needed, or simply keeping our spirits high on long drives, you’ve shown us that teamwork extends far beyond the field. Those moments on the road—the laughs, the pep talks, and even the quiet times—have become some of our favorite memories. We’re lucky to have a coach who cares as much about the journey as the destination.”
Nick’s growth laid a strong foundation, and his continued development will make him an even more effective caller for 2026.
Past Award Winners
2025 marks the 4th year of these awards. To learn more about the contributions of our other amazing volunteers, please check out the links below:
- 2025 Award Winners
- 2024 Award winners
- 2023 Award Winners
- 2022 was the inaugural season for this award.