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May 13 fundraiser will feature a binational little league game, skills training, DJ, dinner and more at Jamul Little League fields
East County News Service
May 9, 2023 (Jamul) - Not long ago, Jamul Little League was losing players in part because of its deteriorating facilities. The community – led by the Jamul Dulzura School District, Jamul Little League, and local businesses – rallied. Funds were raised and all 6 fields were recently renovated ahead of this season, where 150 little leaguers play ball.
“We wanted to remain a community focused organization. A true little league. Jamul families came together and improved the fields, which has been a huge boost for our kids, the parents and our coaches,” said Jeremy Adams, a Jamul little league board member and parent. “It’s made Jamul a better place.”
Jamul Little League wants to pay it forward. The league is hosting a fundraiser this Saturday, May 13 to raise money to renovate at least one little league field south of the border in Tecate, Mexico. Over the past few months Tecate Children’s Baseball League and Jamul Little League have been meeting to exchange ideas related to fields, equipment and training and recruiting coaches and mentors. This collaboration led them to become “Sister/Brother” little leagues, crystalizing last month with the idea that their kids could play together, at least for one evening in May.
“Jamul and Tecate little leagues are located 23 miles from each other. If we did not have the border our little leagues would be in the same league together with other border communities like Campo,” said Ami Murofushi, President of Jamul Little League. “There are kids who play baseball in Jamul Little League who are from Tecate. And we know of one family from Jamul who plays in Tecate Little League. We have many differences but our love of baseball and our kids is the same. We share a commitment that little league is for all kids and all families. That’s what makes it special.”
This Saturday’s fundraiser will consist of 3 segments:
- First, there will be a free 1-hour clinic for kids to practice basic skills with the coaches and volunteers.
- Following that, a team from Tecate (9-11 year olds) will play a team from Jamul (9-11 year olds) in a true international good-will game starting at 5 pm.
- Finally, there will be a free outdoor movie in the outfield grass of one of the fields thanks to A/V equipment donated by Jamul Community Church. A DJ will play music throughout the event.
The goal is to raise $50,000 for Tecate Children’s Baseball League so it can renovate at least one of Tecate's three little league fields. The money will pay for new turf, soil, fencing, painting, electrical and more.
The little league fields in Tecate are in rough shape, including one marked by a massive sinkhole in the outfield. The disrepair is a familiar site to Jamul Little Leaguers, who saw many of their fields become shells of what they once were.
That all changed recently, which is why Jamul Little League has such high hopes for its friends in Mexico, who are inspired by the plans for their fields and the cross-border camaraderie and collaboration this event sparked.
“Binational games between the Tecate Children’s Baseball League and the Jamul Little League – experiences like these are the ones that help shape our children’s lives, by encouraging them through sports and keeping them away from bad habits,” said Javier Hernandez, president of the Tecate Children’s Baseball League.
Hernandez continued: “We are grateful to all those who are putting a grain of sand into this project. The beneficiaries will be our kids, the baseball players, who with joy and passion give themselves to the sport. There is no better payment than to see the children happy and smiling. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart.”
Fundraiser for Tecate Children’s Baseball League
When: Saturday May 13th
Where: Jamul Little League Complex, 14545 Lyons Valley Road, Jamul CA. It’s located in the complex with Jamul Elementary School.
Schedule
3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. - Baseball Clinic
5 p.m. to 7 p.m. - Small Ceremony, Baseball Game, Dinner
7:15 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. - Movie night in park
Tickets
$20 per ticket to attend the clinic, watch the game, and see the movie. Ticket includes one hot dog and one water.
A special plated dinner on the t-ball field will cost $110 per person (adults only) and will feature food from Tecate chefs.
Learn more: Jamulbaseball.com
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