By CAPTAIN LONNIE RYAN
The season is starting locally for a new fast pitch softball league drawing girls from the Ensenada, El Sauzal, San Antonio de las Minas and the Valle de Guadalupe areas. The players range from 5 to 12 years old. The concept was not founded by any one person, it is a community effort to benefit the welfare and spirit of these often poor and less advantaged children. In life frequently we find our greatest happiness can be realized by contributing to the welfare of those less fortunate than ourselves.
During the third week of May team leaders were out recruiting players for the upcoming clinic scheduled June 7. On Wednesday May 21st they assembled at one of the local schools in El Sauzal and held a practice for the kids. In all, there were over 100 girls involved in the practice. They set up stations for catching and throwing along with hitting drills for the girls to get them interested in the game. By the end of practice over 80 girls signed up for the summer clinic with the organizations administrator, Dr. Irma Lozano. It is possible there may be more than the 140 players expected for the June 7 practice. These practice sessions will extend through August 23. The new league had an exhibition game in San Antonio de las Minas May 22nd. There were 2 teams from Ensenada showing off the game to that community. In El Sauzal, they plan a big 4 team round robin tournament on May 31st at 11am.
Along with the players, the league is seeking to recruit both male and female coaches. Currently there are 4 female coaches and 4 male coaches. The league is encouraging all in the community to volunteer to help in any possible way imaginable from transportation to coaching. For the clinics in El Sauzal, since most of the players will come from El Sauzal, the girls will just walk to the practices. As for the Valle de Guadalupe, the coaches will offer transportation and will pick up the players and take them to the clinics, only a 15 minute drive. Also, the league is looking for parents who can help with transportation. The Valle de Guadalupe has proven to have awesome players, they just need a bit of support. The parents there typically don’t have the money for gas for transportation to the fields of play. Hopefully the families will be able to attend, making this venture an entire family event bringing together the whole community surrounding healthy sporting competition.
Ensenada is already ahead in the development of their girls softball leagues as they have over 30 experience players. One of the girls is named ADANESNE, pronounced Ada-Nes-Nay which is Ensenada spelled backwards. She is 9 years old and she’s been playing in Ensenada for 2 years. She works out with the bigger older girls because that’s really the only place to for her to play. There is no league yet for 5 to 12 year olds in Ensenada. This new league is designed so she can play on a team of her own age group against girls her own age.
Quoting Coach Charles Tawil, “Because the sport is new to almost every girl involved, it’s mission critical that we demonstrate in person and put the balls and bats in the girls hands so that they can get the enthusiasm for the game that we know will spark them to participate. We need at least another 60 gloves for the clinics as most players can’t afford to buy them. ” When asked if there are any local Churches involved, he added “The underlying core principles of what we do are centered in the teachings of “being good and doing good”. There is no specific church locally involved but our leadership absolutely leans on the moral values espoused by the Judeo Christian ethic. All players of all faiths are invited to the program. Everyone plays and everyone is truly important.”
The response has already been more than the league can handle. It is feared there will be too many players and not enough coaches. “Don’t worry,” commented Coach Tawil “you don’t have to be a pro coach. You only have to have the desire to help out, learn the game, and be willing to persevere while we all learn and progress together. We will take everyone who cares. Remember, this is recreation softball and 99% of players are beginners too. We are all in this together.”
If you have any time or money to invest in these worthy children or equipment to donate please contact info@bajasoftball.com or visit the league’s web site at www.bajasoftball.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: The 90 Day Yacht Club Guide to Ensenada is a product of True Traveler Publishing written by Captain Lonnie Ryan. Visit his website at http://www.truetraveler.com/ for more information about Ensenada and this informative Ensenada general travel guide.
