early evening baseball

after we left the C21 office this evening, we went to go check out a property in sosua in preparation for a client tomorrow. we noticed a youth baseball game happening across from the casa marina reef hotel. we both agreed that it would be fun to buy a beer at a local mini-mart and some chips, and take a seat in back of the plate to watch this. i'd seen a few gringos - an older couple - sitting there amongst the other onlookers who were mostly dominican men and boys, ranging in age from 5 on up. we were not the first ones with this idea. so we drove down the street, picked up 2 presidentes, came back and watched for a while.

the players were probably about 17 or so. one team was in red and the other in blue. the uniforms were a hodge podge - i'd say on each team 60% were wearing the same uniform. those without the uniform filled in with another team's uniform in the same color or something else. some wore cletes while others had just running shoes. one of the catchers actually had one of those cushy pads that can be worn around your calf to help take some pressure off your knees. he only had one pad though, who knows if he ever had the other one or where he even got his lone one from.

i was hoping maybe i would catch a budding david ortiz or alfonso soriano, but the level of play was not that great. nonetheless, it was a nice temperature and a great way to spend a half hour after work.

we, of course, got the initial stares from the boys and men in the stands. afterall, we were two women. it was only when we sat down that i remembered that they may start their typical cat calling, hissing, and general annoying behavior towards women. i thought it might even be brought up a level as this was a baseball game and very much a guy's place. lo and behold however, they quickly returned their attention to the baseball game. it was a pleasant surprise.

we both wondered aloud who paid for the uniforms, bats, balls, batting helmets, and the lights that came on when it turned 6pmish. another thing we pondered was who cut the grass. the field was actually in "little league" shape - nothing special by american standards but certainly not a sand pit, which i would have thought it to be.

as i sat there and watched, i could only help but think, if i were anyone of these kids, i would just want to play baseball all day. it's a great way to be out of the small space that they likely live and share with tons of family members. it's a possible route out of poverty for those who can make it. it's also just a really great way to spend your time on an early evening.

i didn't have the camera with us, so i couldn't capture the scene. oh well, perhaps we can get a pic another evening and post it later.