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Little Village Summer Softball makes a pitch to neighborhood youth

By Cristobal Martinez on Saturday, August 8, 2009

Address: Little Village, Chicago, IL 60623

Already down by nine runs in the bottom of the first inning, the Hit-Men—entering the game as the league’s sole undefeated team—knew things were not going their way. Ground balls rolling through infielders’ legs on defense and pop-flies creating easy outs on offense were not contributing toward an extension of their seven game winning streak.

After giving up twelve more runs to their opponent, the Cal-Boys, members of the Hit-Men lumbered off the field shouting at each other. The only voice of reason came from a mother on the sideline, yelling out, “Pointing fingers and complaining won’t do you guys any good. Just have fun and play the game!” It was a solid reminder that winning the game was important, but there are larger aspirations afoot.

Sixteen inch softball is the sport and Farragut Career Academy is the location for the Little Village Summer Softball League. Eight teams gather on the school’s dirt-and-grass field on Thursday evenings, combining the talents of four neighborhood groups with other community residents. New Life Community Church, Nueva Camino, Beyond the Ball and Pilsen’s YMCA Street Intervention Program wanted to create a league that would foster interaction across organizations and with neighborhood residents. Therefore, instead of having each organization field its own team, a draft was held and players were chosen by eight managers.

The league started with teams comprised of players affiliated with the four main organizations, but nearby residents have also been encouraged to participate. They can either be picked up by an established team or create one of their own. The Cal-Boys, a team of men in their early twenties, are all residents of Little Village. They heard about the league from Benjamin Estrada, an Outreach Worker from Pilsen’s YMCA Street Intervention Program. “We want the guys who are running the streets to come here and run in the park instead,” he says, explaining that he intentionally reaches out to youth on the fringe of gang involvement.

 

Providing a safe environment for a neighborhood that lacks park space was the vision of both Estrada and Matt Buehler, an Outreach Worker at New Life Community Church. They felt softball, well-known to most Chicago residents, would be an easy way to unite the people of Little Village. With positive role models from the organizations already involved, they set out to recruit the youth, focusing on those involved with gangs.

Buehler understands the neighborhood is divided by gangs. Doing his part to form Little Village’s Summer Softball League, Buehler called upon both Beyond the Ball and Nueva Camino to spread the word throughout the neighborhood. “The response was overwhelming. Each organization put forth a lot of effort to make this league a reality.”

The Little Village Summer Softball League is providing more than just a Thursday evening diversion. Buehler notes, “While the goal of the league is to change the neighborhood, we understand the gang members participating aren’t going to transform their lives instantly. We just want them to know that we are here to support them, and we’re willing to help out in any way possible!” Some of those supports have included tutoring for players interested in earning their GED and providing ongoing counseling for one participant’s struggling marriage.

Matt DeMateo, Youth Pastor at New Life Community Church, fills the role of umpire for the games and catches plenty of heat for the way he rules on close plays. He endures the jeers and stays upbeat, feeling fortunate to have something positive in the neighborhood. “It’s good for us to use the small space we have in this area of Little Village to do something the residents can enjoy and benefit from. We hope by getting people involved in the league, we can keep the youth and their families out of harm’s way.”

DeMateo added, “New Life and the other organizations that are a part of the Little Village Summer Softball League are each lights in our community.” The dirt and grass behind Farragut Career Academy is no stadium, but the lights are shining on Thursday nights.