When José Correa Jr. was announced as the 2025 recipient of the Flossmoor Baseball and Softball Jarrett Rowe Award on June 24, he received two tokens representing the honor. One was a trophy. The other was a rainbow, courtesy of a brief shower that popped up just as the ceremony was getting started.
John Darragh, representing the organization, explained that the award was given annually in honor of Jarrett Rowe, a FBBSB player who died in 2010. A player from each Bronco league team is nominated and the winner is selected by the FBBSB board. The award is then presented by Jarrett’s father, Hopeton Rowe, and Jarrett’s former coach, Rick Lukasik.
“This is an award that’s our highest individual award on the baseball side,” Darragh said. He introduced Lukasik to present the award.
Lukasik admitted he gets emotional every year when presenting the award.
“Every year I pretty much say I’d rather not have to do this because Jarret would still be with us, but he’s not,” he said. “I think we can sum up Jarrett in the five words that are on this trophy, ‘sportsmanship, dedication, teamwork, spirit and ability,’ five things that Jarrett had in abundance. What we always tell the league every year is to pick somebody that exemplifies those five things.”
This year, that somebody was José.
“(Jose’s) coach said he’s the heart of the team,” Darragh said. “He’s the first one to congratulate a teammate on a great play. He’s also the first one to try to make them feel better when things aren’t going well. His joy and zest for baseball is contagious.”
He offered an example. One time this season, a player on an opposing team hit a home run while Jose was catching. The opposing players mobbed their teammate, and José joined right in the celebration. Jose remembered the moment.
“I was just so happy for him. So I just joined in with their celebration,” he said.
José’s family joined him on the field for a photo following the presentation, including his father, José Correa Sr.; his mother, Susie; and his younger brother, Chris. Jarrett Rowe’s family joined them, including his father, Hopeton Rowe; his brother, Hopeton Rowe Jr.; his nephew, Ashton Rowe; and his mother, Raye Rowe.
Following the presentation, the tournament game got under way in spite of occasional showers.
The presentation of the Rowe Award comes near the end of the season that started with the traditional opening day parade and first-pitch ceremonies on April 26.
FBBSB President Carlo Gozzi said in an interview after opening day that more than 300 signed up this year.
“Everyone’s excited,” he said. “Baseball Fever, as usual, is back in Flossmoor.”
The sport is a long-time tradition in the community, and Gozzi said it serves as a unifying activity for the diverse community.
“It doesn’t matter what culture you are or what ethnicity or religion or race,” he said. “Baseball brings everybody together. I still meet people who played baseball and softball when they were kids and they still have fond memories. Their kids and grandkids stay involved.”
The parade grand marshal this year was Jamere Dismukes, then head coach of the Homewood-Flossmoor High School varsity boys basketball team, which won the state championship in 2024. He has since resigned to pursue another opportunity.
A new feature this year was naming rights for ballfields. The Arnold Group Insurance Agency sponsored Bronco Field, and Denise Arnold threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the girls softball leagues. Land O’ Frost sponsored Mustang Field.
