Baseball Without Borders

Let There Be Light – Genesis 1:3

Dixitque Deus fiat lux et facta est lux ("And said God let there be light, and there was light")


Driving into Boca Chica, past homes constructed from scraps of wood, rusted nails and mosaics of corrugated steel I realized this wasn’t going to be the North Shore baseball I grew up on. When we arrived at the field, “ninos” were using every inch of foul territory. Practicing with old equipment, the local boys were smiling from ear to ear, even though they were on gravelly patches littered with broken glass, trying their best to avoid the feral dogs darting in and out of their way.

After a week of playing great competition and a crash course in working “The Dominican Way” I felt a kinship with these players, none of whom were born with the advantages that we Americans take for granted.

So, how do we help this economy? Well, baseball essentially is the economy. So let’s start there. Baseball Without Borders is a 501c3 accredited charity and they need $13,113 to finish off the lighting system at Estadio de Beisbol Juan Albt. Ozoria. This will make an immediate impact for the residents of Boca Chica. This field is more than an outlet for youthful recreation. It is a town center, a gathering place and even a source of employment. If they can extend the playable hours on this field by adding lights it will help the entire community.

Right now, the field has light poles and fixtures but the project has stalled as they still need $13,113 USD to purchase the necessary amount of 1500 Watt Bulbs.

Thanks,
HP
Twitter/IG: @h_pelinski

Getting ready to face a Dominican Academy at Estadio de Beisbol Juan Albt. Ozoria

Painting a House near Boca Chica

Meeting some local youth several miles outside Boca Chica

Hanging with MLB Hopefuls in La Caleta

Randy Fernandez, a 20 year old baseball player from the Dominican Republic, graduated from high school in his country in 2016. 

Baseball Without Borders (BWB), (a 501c3 organization whose goal is assisting Dominican baseball players in getting an education) arranged for him to learn English in the year after graduating.

Through continued sponsorship from BWB, Randy enrolled at College of Marin in the fall of 2017. Randy is a valued member of the College of Marin baseball team and has used his passion for baseball to make inroads and become a much-loved member of the community. Randy started at second base for College of Marin in 2018 and the team won their conference. He also did very well academically. For the 2019 season Randy was the starting Shortstop for Marin and a team leader.

Randy worked the summer of 2018 as in intern with the Kansas City Royals organization.

Now that Randy has finished his two years at Marin, he is planning to continue his studies and baseball career at a 4-year college. BWB is soliciting funds to pay Randy’s continued college tuition and travel expenses going forward. Randy’s hope is that a college degree will put him in position to help his Dominican family economically and provide for a more promising future for himself.

www.baseballwithoutborders.org