CANTON — Bucyrus head football coach Jon Butchko returned to his roots Saturday night for a special award.

The Stark County Amateur Baseball Association presented Butchko with the 2024 Ralph Miller Service Award for his contributions to Stark County Amateur Baseball.

Butchko was a public address announcer for the Canton Class A Baseball League back in the early 2000s. The league went dormant from 2009 until its revival in 2023.

Canton is an 18-and-over amateur league that now functions under the umbrella of the Ohio Men’s Senior Baseball League and Men’s Amateur Baseball League. The Ohio MSBL/MABL operates leagues for ages 25, 40, 50, 60, 65, and 70-and over throughout the state.

“I was the lead announcer. I parlayed that into other things for Stark County,” Butchko said. “I was an ambassador, a baseball and football announcer.”

Butchko is a 2000 graduate of Canton Central Catholic High School and began his brief announcing career while attending college.

“I was 19 at the time. I was as young as the players,” Butchko said. “I had friends playing. I used to go watch them play and I thought, ‘If I’m going to be here anyway, I might as well get paid for it.’”

While he enjoyed his announcing gig, Butchko decided on a future in coaching. If that had not worked out, he would have had a career to fall back on.

“Had I not got into coaching, I might have stayed with announcing,” Butchko said.

Anthony Barson, SCABA Trustee, noted that Butchko’s receiving the award was a first in the long history of the association.

“In our 88 years of existence, Jon is the first PA announcer to receive such accolades,” Barson said. “His hard work, dedication, and genuine love for the game is why he was recognized by the committee this year.”

The award was named for Ralph Miller, who played and coached in the Canton Class A League for over 40 years, and according to Butchko, was one of the best ever in Stark County.

Receiving the award took Butchko by surprise.

“I’ve won other awards,” Butchko said. “Who thought some weird kind of hobby would get me an award?”