Athlete of the Week

This week: Kevin Dwelly

Ray Sullivan, Jr.

To date the Athlete of the Week column has recognized Sonoma Valley athletes excelling at the high school level. This week The Sun is proud to recognize an individual that is synonymous with youth baseball in the Sonoma Valley, Kevin Dwelly.
During the spring Dwelly can be found most anywhere a baseball or softball game is taking place. The omni-present Dwelly serves as an announcer, scorekeeper, and umpire for Little League and the men’s recreational softball leagues.
While Dwelly is the first to admit that perhaps the most deserving candidate for Athlete of the Week honors in his family is his son Trevor, a standout third-baseman on the Sonoma Dragons junior varsity squad, it is the senior Dwelly’s commitment to youth baseball that cannot be overlooked.
Dwelly’s voice resonates from the Sonoma Valley Little League’s announcer’s booth five nights a week. On the weekends he can be heard at Arnold Field taking care of the same task for Sonoma Valley Babe Ruth. On weekend evenings in the summer he also serves as the official scorekeeper to the recreational softball leagues.
Towards the end of the Little League season, Babe Ruth is in full swing and softball is ramping up, and Dwelly may be serving in one of his official capacities at a total of 24 games during a week.
New limitations on pitchers has put Dwelly more into the limelight at the little league level – a responsibility that impacts not just the teams participating at the time, but the entire league.
Dwelly got his start announcing when Trevor played for the Blue Jays in the Valley of the Moon Little League and it has become his calling. “Announcing is something that I fell into. I had a knack for it, and when somebody tells you you’re pretty good at something you enjoy, that makes it fun.”
Dwelly continued at VOMLL for three years and has been the lead announcer at SVLL the past three seasons. This past fall he was the announcer for the dramatic homecoming football victory over Casa Grande.
Announcing is somewhat of a family affair for Dwelly. His wife Lisa and daughter Katrina (a senior at SVHS) can often be found in the stands when he’s working, and his most memorable moment announcing came on a family day. While he has witnessed many crazy and improbable things on the field, last season Trevor hit a home run on Father’s Day while Kevin was behind the microphone. “It was just an incredible day. It was Trevor’s first home run on a big field and he gave me the ball,” said the beaming Dwelly.
While not emulating any announcer, Dwelly has developed his own unique and energetic style that is admired by local fans as well as teams visiting from out of town. “I love making the kids feel like big leaguers, and it’s the best when the kids smile when they hear their name.”