New Haven Independent

No, New Haven’s all-stars, featuring (from left to right in the photo) captains Greg Johnson, Jr., Quanisha Solomon, and Joseph Lowrey (and coaches, left to right in second row, Anthony Outlaw and Greg Johnson, Sr.), will not be competing in this year’s actual Little League World Series, although they will be playing on the same field and rubbing shoulders with their sports peers hailing from Staten Island to Taiwan.

The Little League all-stars from the Greater New Haven area are, however, a distinguished team indeed. They were selected, one of four in the entire country, to go to the Little League World Series festivities and jamboree as part of the Little League Urban Initiative, funded, in part, by major leaguers such as the Yankees’ Gary Sheffield and the Twins’ Torii Hunter. These stars benefited from Little League and see this program as providing exposure, needed opportunity, and inspiration for urban kids to pursue baseball and the values it teaches.

New Haven’s nine — actually there are a dozen kids ranging in age from 11 to 13 and from schools from Hamden to West Haven and selected from the four teams in the upper division of the league — will compete with urban teams from Richmond, Virginia, Pittsburgh, and the Bronx.

That first baseman is actually a first basewoman, Quanisha Solomon, age 12. She goes to Troup school; her current hero is Derek Jeter. She is one of only two girls in the league. According to coach Outlaw, she was chosen a captain, along with Greg Johnson and Joseph Lowrey, because of her qualities of leadership and focus. The captains, as well as all the kids, have practiced three afternoons a week throughout the season and played games beginning in April, and their school work is maintained throughout.

What exactly is the Urban Initiative? “The Urban Initiative is terrific for our kids,” said longtime league president Donald McAulay (in the photo with Tanya Banks Solomon, proud mother of Quanisha, who was herself the only female in the league during her playing days). McAulay was a New Haven police commissioner under Mayor John Daniels; he works as a human resources executive for Pfizer in New London and New Haven. “Diversity and an African-American presence in the game dwindle as the kids get older. Other sports call, like basketball and so forth, but we have some kids with great talent. We get the parents together, and with the help of the city and some businesses like Pfizer, Yale’s Office of New Haven Affairs, the Masonic Lodges, and others we hope to gain more visibility and support so we can keep on making this dream come true for our kids, and their parents.”

Ah, parents, the volunteers without whom nothing happens. Your role? “Look,” said Greg Johnson, “So many young kids are dying out there, that’s why we put the time and effort in. Baseball teaches kids to be both team players and leaders.”

“And”, added coach Outlaw, “it teaches respect for peers, good decision making, and good judgment. These kids need that out on the street.”

The many mothers in attendance at a practice Wednesday agreed. They included (left to right in the photo) Sonya Jaudon, mom of outfielder Patrick Burroughs, Tracy Johnson, Greg’s mom, Myrna Williams, mom of second baseman R.J., and Laura Jones, infielder Brydell’s mom, who were in abundance and whooping it up in the stands. “When the kids play baseball,” said Jaudon, “they don’t focus on the streets. They’re too tired to get into trouble!”

And in your view, parents, are your all stars getting just a bit anxious about the upcoming appearance before cameras, and bleachers full of thousands of spectators? “Actually,” responded Laura Jones, “we’re more nervous than they are, although my son’s been watching the World Series on TV all the time, and checking his equipment. Oh, the kids know this is a major event in their lives.”

Mayor John DeStefano does, too. The mayor has told McAulay and these beaming parents he just might drop by Bowen Field at 6 in the morning Wednesday to wish them good luck, victory in the three exhibition games they will be playing in Williamsport, and lots of fun. At a time when not all the news out of New Haven is so good, this is. Big time. Greg, Quanisha, Joseph, and the rest of the Walter Pop Smith Little League New Haven All Stars are doing New Haven proud and they will remember this experience, and perhaps be profoundly shaped by it, all their lives. If you read this, Mayor DeStefano, consider this a nudge to be at Bowen to give them the mayoral high five.