Bayside LL to play Jamaican visitors

America’s favorite pastime has found an audience on the island of Jamaica through work being done by the North Shore Baptist Church in Bayside and Bayside Little League, which will play their Jamaican counterparts during some upcoming exhibition games.
For the last 20 years, North Shore Baptist Church Pastor Ed Moore, a former Bayside Little League manager, has been going to Jamaica to do mission work. The church also has a full-time missionary, Wally Mackenzie, stationed in Jamaica.
Typically, the members of the church take a doctor, medical supplies and clothing to benefit the community in Jamaica. They also hold vacation bible school, evangelistic meetings and visit hospitals and senior centers.
“Two years ago, we came up with the idea of looking for a way to minister to the boys in the community through the means of baseball,” Moore said.
Moore then contacted Bayside Little League Commissioner Robert Reid, asking for donations of used equipment. However, he said that Reid was generous enough to donate new equipment, including uniforms, baseballs, bats and gloves. Reid said that he thought it was a fabulous idea when he was told of the program, and that the parents and kids of Bayside Little League responded with cooperation and excitement.
During the first year of the program in Buff Bay, 130 boys aged 11 and 12 tried out, although there was really only enough time and equipment to accommodate 30 of them. Moore said that when practices first began, the children didn’t even know which hand to put the glove on, much less the rules of the game.
Within a short amount of time, the Jamaican players had already been invited to participate in the Caribbean World Series and traveled to Puerto Rico. Although the kids lost their games, Moore said that they have been showing improvement.
The program now includes six teams with about 15 players on each team. Along with the 11 and 12 age group, there are now also 13 and 14 year olds participating in it.
“I think it’s fabulous what they’ve done in just two years,” Reid said. “It’s just so thrilling to hear what’s going on with it.”
From August 16 to August 29, ten of the 13- and 14-year-old boys will come to New York. They will be joined by three coaches and one mother and will stay with members of the North Shore Baptist Church.
“For these kids, this is going to be a very unique experience,” said Moore, adding that most of them have not been to an airport, much less on a plane or to the United States.
Moore said that he hopes the exhibition games that the Jamaican boys play with the Bayside Little League will inspire them. He also said that he hopes the Bayside players will learn more about Jamaica and will be able to recognize the significance of their contributions.
“Without Bayside Little League, this program never would have gotten off the ground,” Moore said. “I hope they see that their organization…really made a difference somewhere in the world.”
Reid added that he hopes the little league players from both teams will develop new friendships during their interactions.
“Hopefully this will be the beginning of something that will last for a long time,” said Reid, who is looking forward to meeting the Jamaican boys. He added, “We really want to make them very welcome, make them very relaxed and just make sure they have a good time.”
The next goal for the baseball program in Jamaica will be to open it up to girls in February.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the program or making a donation can contact the North Shore Baptist Church by calling 718-229-7223 or can stop by the church, which is located at 202nd Street and 42nd Avenue in Bayside.
The exhibition games will be open to the community. Information on the games will be posted on the Bayside Little League’s website, www.baysidelittleleague.com. Their information line can be reached by calling 718-229-5565.