It is about more than just baseball.
“It helps these kids immensely,” said Natalie Lutz, of the Boys and Girls Club of B.C.
“It helps their self esteem, their self confidence.
“And not only does it help them psychologically, it helps them physically: it keeps them active and running around.”
Lutz was referring to the Vancouver Canadians Baseball Foundation (VCBF) League which earlier this month, kicked off its second season.
Through the initiative, more than 300 children from around the Lower Mainland got the chance to run the bases and play baseball at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium.
The program began July 9 and runs through August.
Last year, there were 154 spots made available to Boys and Girls Clubs and this year, that number increased to 205.
“We had no problem filling those, it was done within two weeks,” Lutz said.
“It’s simple, every child should have the opportunity to play team sports,” said Jake Kerr, the co-chairman of the VCBF.
“Team sports such as baseball teach kids invaluable life lessons — how to win, how to lose, the importance of staying active — and they build self-confidence.
“We believe no child should be denied this experience because of reasons outside their control.”
