When Raymond “Chi Chi” Fonseca watched a Little League tournament
on television being played in St. Thomas, he wondered why the Virgin Islands weren’t competing.
“I thought this wasn’t right, being so close,” Mr. Fonseca said.
After a month of meetings with several baseball and softball enthusiasts, a core group came together to form the BVI Little League Baseball/Softball Association.
Now, the association is hoping to find itself on the roster when it comes to Little League tournaments around the region and even the world.
“It grew out of a need to promote baseball among our youths in the BVI,” said BVILLBSA President Edric “Eddie” Brathwaite.
The association consists of eight members who have an extensive background in the sport and are now looking to “give back” to the community.
“We have all been exposed one way or another to the sport — baseball and softball,” said Al Frett one of the association’s vice presidents. “We decided to come together and see what we can give back — our experience, our time and our concern for the development of the youth.”
Yovanny Fernandez, who speaks Spanish, is the other vice president. The association has selected two vice presidents, because they are hoping to reach the Spanish-speaking community in the territory. Ultimately, Mr. Fernandez will also serve as a “liaison” when competing in tournaments in Spanish-speaking countries.
The association has set a date for hosting a league on June 9. Teams from Virgin Gorda and Tortola are expected to compete.
The BVILLBSA members have already made an effort to include players on the sister islands, including Anegada, VG and Jost Van Dyke. Several clinics have been held and equipment donated at the expense of the members.
“We just came from Anegada,” said Elroy “Ellie” Henley. “We found a field that we can utilise.”
Players who could participate in the league on sister islands are already being identified. The association is also looking for parents that will help coach and volunteer as umpires.
“Little League is run by the parents,” Mr. Fonseca said. “The parents have a huge role to play. We have a pretty good turnout — not only the kids, but the parents.”
Organisers see Little League as a healthy alternative rather than “sitting at home and watching television.”
“It is just good to find something for them to do, instead of just sitting down in front of the television,” said BVILLBSA Secretary Natasha Julius. “I grew up outdoors. All of us can not protest that we grew up playing ball or doing something outside.”
The league will be open to both girls and boys between the ages of 6 and 18 and will focus on the fundamentals of the game.
Although the association hasn’t started recruiting players on Tortola, it looks forward to working with others, like Terry Chinnery, who has been running a youth baseball and softball programme in Road Town.
“What we are trying to do is get to another level,” Mr. Frett said. “We hope to utilise some of those some players. I don’t see it as a conflict, but as an advancement.”
In July, the association is planning to compete in the Caribbean and Central America Little League tournament. Two teams have already been selected and the association is scheduled to meet with Steve Parris, the Virgin Islands administrator for Little League.
Currently, Mr. Parris oversees League Little in both the VI and USVI. However, the VI hopes to select is own administrator for the territory in the future once the association becomes more established.
“We know it is going to be an uphill battle and it is going to be a challenge, but we are going to do what we can,” Ms. Julius said. “We are prepared to meet those challenges.”