Dear Editor:
The weather in Ukraine in April allows the many Little Leaguers in Ukraine to play their first games after spending many months indoors. All our teams are sharpening their skills, and boys and girls hope that they get chosen to play on their league’s all-star team.
I am proud to announce that the city of Kremenets and the Kremenets Internat Little League will serve as hosts on May 29 to June 2 of the 17th Ukraine Little League Championship. The games will be played on two fields, one on the grounds of the internat (orphanage) and at the Kremenets city soccer stadium. I do believe that this will be the first Little League (LL) championship in the world ever to be held on the grounds of an orphanage.
The ages of team players range from 10 to 12. Each all-star team has one goal: to win the 17th championship and then travel to Kutno, Poland, to represent Ukraine at the European Regional Championship. A win in Kutno means you can punch a ticket to participate in the LL World Series in Williamsport, Pa., in August. That is every child’s dream, and it can happen.
The ninth Ukraine LL Championships for children from internaty and newly formed LLs will also be held in Kremenets. The dates are September 18-22. This is an invitational tournament. Four new teams have been formed in the city of Mykolayiv, and I look forward to seeing those children compete in Kremenets.
The year 2016 is quite significant for me as it marks the 25th year that I have traveled to Ukraine as a volunteer to help develop a youth baseball program. Much has happened in those years; many have come and gone. I remain committed to helping the country of all my ancestors through sports.
I am looking for individuals and organizations that want to help me make these two championships a very special time for the children participating. In addition to baseball games, the schedule includes cultural trips, skill competitions and the ever-popular annual lottery full of goodies for the children.
If any readers know of a school or orphanage in Ukraine that wants to add baseball to its school program, please contact me. I can provide all the needed equipment and necessary training. All the school needs is a desire to play baseball. There is no cost to the school. Please reach out to your contacts in Ukraine. Please contact me at [email protected] for more information.
Let me once again thank the Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union and the California Association to Aid Ukraine for being the major sponsors of my work with the children in Ukraine.
Glory to Ukraine!
Bayside, N.Y.