Recently, Tony Klarberg, one of Sweden's prominent baseball figures was honored by his local organization for his contributions to baseball in Scandinavia and beyond.

The Swedish Baseball Academy in Leksand, one of Europe's oldest such institutions, celebrated their 20th anniversary of training the next generations of Sweden's hurlers and hitters. A large gathering of over 100 fans, parents and former players joined local dignitaries in feting Klarberg, the Academy's founder and driving force.

Coach Klarberg, the 2007 European Baseball Coaches Association's selection for their Career Achievement Award, has always been at the forefront of game development on the continent. A yearly attendee at the world's largest baseball coaching clinic - the ABCA - he has consistently sought to improve his coaching prowess and, in turn, the fortunes of Swedish baseball by sharing the knowledge he picked up at those clinics in the United States with the players in his charge.

Besides local dignitaries bestowing accolades on Klarberg, ISG Baseball Board Member and old friend, Pat Doyle, attended the affair and presented him with a plaque from ISG commemorating his contributions to the game.

Over the years, Coach Klarberg has been willing to share his abundant knowledge of the game and academy building organization across Europe as a speaker at many Federation's clinics. Besides speaking, he periodically arranges trips to US colleges for the older, college age Leksand players, to help them discover what it takes to play at the next level. He always has exhorted his academy students to follow their dreams and these trips bring their dreams closer to reality.

We're certain the residents of northern Sweden are as proud of Tony Klarberg as ISG is. Congratulations!