Southern Command's All-Star Baseball Team is Role Model to Communities

Photo By Chief Petty Officer Gino Flores | U.S. Southern Command Friendship Tour baseball team collectively clear the school grounds of trash and other debris during a community outreach event held at San Diego Padres Elementary school. The team representing joint service personnel assigned to U.S. SOUTHCOM is on a friendship baseball tour traveling through five Latin American nations engaging military and civilian teams in a friendly game of baseball. The team is conducting baseball clinics at local communities for children, strengthening ties through a shared interest in baseball.  

NAJAYO, DR

04.17.2009

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Gino Flores 

U.S. Southern Command

NAJAYO, Dominican Republic (NNS) — U. S. Southern Command's All-Star Baseball Team is currently on a Friendship tour through five Latin American countries performing baseball clinics, exhibition games and community outreach projects in Najayo.

The All-Star team performed yard work alongside children and faculty members on a recent community relations project at the San Diego Padres Elementary school scheduled April 17. They picked up and removed debris from the playgrounds and painted dilapidated doors.

"We are more than just Sailors, Marines, Soldiers, Airman or Guardsman who are looked upon as warriors of freedom. We are all part of a community and we are role models to the people in the community," said SOUTHCOM's baseball team's general manager, Army Col. Angel Perez. "This is more than just baseball; this is about building a bond with the community through a shared interest in baseball, showing them that we care and the difference it makes when you get involved in projects that promote goodwill in the community."

The U.S. SOUTHCOM team is finishing up its five-nation baseball tour throughout Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Chile and the Dominican Republic. The team is engaging military and civilian teams in the region in friendly games of baseball. The team is also conducting baseball clinics at local communities for little league children throughout these countries strengthening ties through a shared interest in baseball.

"The faculty and students were all very appreciative of the work done during the cleaning of the school yard and repainting of doors," said team catcher Air Force Staff Sgt. Brian Chesshir.

"A big part of being a leader is helping out in the community," said team pitcher and major league prospect, Navy Ensign Mitchell Harris. "The work we do out in town and in these countries shows a different side of American's. This serves as an example and promotes a higher standard of living. It shows people the need to take ownership of their community."

"This tour has been truly a rewarding experience from start to end," said infielder Capt. Eric Santana. "The community interaction with the local children and the smiles they bring make it all worthwhile."

This is the second straight year SOUTHCOM has conducted a regional baseball tour. The sports outreach efforts and community projects are the command's ongoing commitment to strengthening friendships with partner nations in the hemisphere through activities that range from combined military training and exercises to personal interaction outside of traditional military settings.

I'm looking forward to sharing the experience with my family and friends back home in Puerto Rico said infielder Coast Guardsmen Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin Martinez.

"At the end of the day it is a win-win situation for all," said Perez. "The community wins, the children learn and there is a lot of satisfaction in all that."

• Date Taken: 04.17.2009
• Date Posted: 04.22.2009 15:27
• Story ID: 32736
• Location: NAJAYO, DR