Moss and Siemers Named Allie P. Reynolds Citizenship Award Recipients
Taybor Moss and Kael Siemers have been named inaugural recipients of the Allie P. Reynolds Citizenship Award and Scholarship. The honor was bestowed at a ceremony this morning at the Hall of the People at the First Americans Museum in Oklahoma City.
The award was established by the Rookie League Foundation to honor the many contributions to our State by Oklahoma native and New York Yankees pitching legend Allie Pierce Reynolds. Mr. Reynolds played 13 MLB seasons and was one of baseball’s best while leading the New York Yankees to six World Series titles over a seven-year span from 1947-53. After retiring after the 1954 season, he returned to Oklahoma City where he served as a business and civic leader for decades. He was always proud of his Muscogee (Creek) heritage and thus supported many Native American causes, including the founding of the Red Earth Festival in 1987.
Partnering with the Rookie League Foundation to make this award and scholarship possible are the First Americans Museum, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, renowned OKC attorney and author Bob Burke, and Shawn and Lyndy Sullivan (Lyndy is Mr. Reynold’s granddaughter). MTM Recognition has partnered with the foundation to provide the awards presented to the recipients.
Muscogee Secretary of the Nation Zechariah Harjo attended this morning’s ceremony and spoke of Mr. Reynolds’ legacy as a tribal ambassador and the importance of sports activity for Native American youth.
Awarded to one Oklahoma high school baseball and softball player for their contributions as athletes and civic leaders, this year’s recipients are richly deserving of this honor.
Moss is a Cherokee Nation citizen and junior at Piedmont High School, where she excels as a softball and track and field athlete. She is a three-year starter for the Lady Wildcat softball team and has helped lead the team to three consecutive Class 5A State titles. She has racked up numerous honors over the last three years, including The Oklahoman Big All-City 1st Team recognition as a junior. Moss is a member of the Oklahoma Athletics travel softball organization and is on the Oklahoma Athletics18U Premier-Coleman team.
In 2022 Moss became the first Native American high school athlete in the country to sign an NIL deal when she reached an agreement with Moore Bats out of Wilton, California. When Moss is not participating in sports, she spends her time volunteering at youth camps, Play Ball events with the OKC Baseball Club, and giving softball lessons to young ladies in the area who want to improve their game. She is a member of the National Honor Society.
Moss is the daughter of Anthony and Lisa Moss and the older sister to Turner Moss. She has already signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball at NCAA Division II power Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas.
Siemers will graduate next week as a Valedictorian at Wesleyan Christian High School in Bartlesville. He lettered in baseball, basketball and football during his high school athletic career and was a four-year starter in baseball and football. Siemers helped lead Wesleyan football and basketball to deep playoff runs over the last couple of years. He was named conference defensive Player of the Year in basketball as a senior.
At 15 years old, Siemers earned a spot on the Bartlesville AAA baseball team. He later played for the AAAA Doenges Ford Indians team which competed in the Oklahoma Collegiate League.
Siemers is a member of several academic honor societies, the Wesleyan Christian Student Council and has coached “Buddy Ball”, a program developed for special needs players. He is the oldest son of Micah and Katie Siemers and the brother to Hank, Trigg and Elliot Kate Siemers.
Rookie League Foundation Executive Director Carol Herrick says that the foundation is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of today’s high school athletes while also honoring the legacy of an Oklahoma icon.
“Recognizing these two exceptional student athletes, along with their nominated peers, is a great privilege,” Herrick said.
“It’s truly humbling to introduce Allie P Reynolds to a new generation of ball players. His example vividly illustrates how sports can inspire a life dedicated to serving the community. We appreciate the support of the Reynolds family, Bob Burke, Muskogee (Creek) Nation and the First American Museum for their support of this project.”
In addition to the Award and $1,000 scholarship, Moss and Siemers will throw out a first pitch at an OKC Baseball Club game later this season and will be presented with a personalized OKC Baseball Club jersey.