Kiwanis of The Rockaways Makes a Home Run with Co-Ed Little League Program

By Kami-Leigh Agard

Play ball! Kiwanis of The Rockaways is knocking it out of the park with a new Co-ed Little League baseball program, welcoming boys and girls, ages 9 to 12, residing on the Rockaway peninsula and Broad Channel. And here’s the pitch—with registration and team assessment ongoing every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. until May 17, when practices officially start at Redfern Playground Baseball Field, sign up your children now for a free summer full of fun in the sun—learning how to pitch, bat and run.

Raised in Far Rockaway, Helen Montero-Hernandez, Kiwanis of The Rockaways membership chair, is like an octopus with her passion for community advocacy, sprawling to serving as secretary of Community Board 14, secretary of Bayswater Civic Association, serving on the steering committee of Far Rockaway Arverne Nonprofit Coalition (FRANC), and co-founder of local arts organization, Sol De Vida. However, she boasts that the brainchild behind Kiwanis’ Co-ed Little League baseball program is her husband and fellow Kiwanis member, Jason Hernandez.

Montero-Hernandez shared, “When Jason was little, he played for a Kiwanis little league in Brooklyn. So, when we both joined Rockaway Kiwanis a year ago, he said that he wanted to bring his love for baseball to Far Rockaway. He researched what was required to start up a Kiwanis little league, and the Rockaway Kiwanis board voted yes! So, we worked on getting the funding, and here we are!”

Jason Hernandez has been a lifelong baseball aficionado, not just playing, but also, coaching, and shared that it all kicked off with Kiwanis.

“When I was 10 years old, I was pretty good and got into a league in Brooklyn that was about to enter the Little League World Series in South Williamsport, Penn. However, I signed up too late. So, my coach put me on to Kiwanis Little League, and they paid for everything for me to play, and I excelled and loved it. We even traveled to Louisiana. I’ve always had love for Kiwanis because of those baseball childhood memories. Also, playing baseball with Kiwanis helped me build a resume when I was applying for college.

“However, living in Rockaway, I noticed that there is no baseball for kids at all on the east side in Far Rockaway. So, this is why I wanted to bring Kiwanis Co-ed Little League to the neighborhood for all kids across the peninsula and Broad Channel. Once we grow our program, I even want to start a tee-ball league next year, so I can start coaching these kids into actual players. I’ve played baseball my whole life and want to share my love for the sport with youth. To this day, I still play softball. Again, I love baseball, and want to share that love with kids,” Hernandez said.

Pre-pandemic national headlines suggested baseball amongst youth is at a stalemate. In 2015, The Wall Street Journal explained, “Why Children Are Abandoning Baseball.” Also, The Washington Post lamented a sport “Behind the Curve.” The Los Angeles Times asked if the national pastime was “Past Its Time?”

However, just ask social media sensations—Twin Stripe Reporters, Carter and Cooper Thomas. These dapper 10-year-old fraternal twins are already broadcast journalists, who not only share their game day experiences at Yankee Stadium, including being gifted a ball by Bronx Bomber stud, Aaron Judge, but also their gregariously reported analyses. (Check out the duo on Instagram: twinstripe_reporters).

These days, the narrative that “baseball is dying” is what’s actually dying. As per MLB.com, Little League International has seen exponential growth in baseball and softball participation, with baseball participation reaching its highest level since 2008. Softball participation also increased significantly, with a 6% increase from the previous year. This growth is being fueled by a rebound after the pandemic, improvements in external communications and technology, and a focus on media engagement.

Major League Baseball reported the benefits of its grassroots efforts to embed the love of baseball in the hearts and minds of youngsters by getting bats and balls in their hands at an early age.

And this is what Kiwanis of the Rockaways hopes to embed with children in their Co-ed Little League baseball program—the love to be outdoors, being part of a team and play ball.

Kiwanis of the Rockaways is a member of Kiwanis International, a global service organization founded in 1915, composed of local clubs of volunteers who work to improve communities and the lives of children. While Kiwanis is an international network of like-minded members, Rockaway Kiwanis’ footprint is from Breezy Point to Far Rockaway and Broad Channel. As quoted on their website: “We are a non-political, non-religious organization welcoming people from all walks of life, and would love for you to consider joining us. We are all volunteers looking to help make a positive difference in the lives of both children and adults in our communities.” The club meets every third Thursday of the month, 7 p.m. at Rogers Pub (203 Beach 116th Street).

Kiwanis of The Rockaways, with the help from the NYC Park Department, has secured the baseball fields on Beach 17th Street and the Redfern baseball fields behind the nearby NYCHA development for their inaugural je Little League. These locations will serve five baseball teams, each consisting of 15 players. All teams will be co-ed, and the program aims to provide a positive, inclusive environment for all kids in the community. The goal for the total number of players is 75. Registration and team assessment is ongoing every Saturday, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. until May 17 at Redfern Playground Baseball Field (Beach 12th Street and Redfern Ave.). Parents can bring ID and their child’s birth certificate and proof of insurance to register. Practices begin May 17, and the season kicks off on June 21.

Kiwanis of The Rockaways is currently accepting program sponsors and accepting equipment donations. Little League registration is free and all children, ages 9 to 12, are welcome! For more info, email: littleleague@kiwanisoftherockaways.org, or visit: kiwanisoftherockaways.org / rockaway_kiwanisnyc on Instagram and Kiwanis Rockaways on Facebook. Or as Montero-Hernandez said, “See us on the field!”