The Little Earth Red Bears won the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board Youth Baseball League Championship this summer in the 10 Year Old And Under division. In celebration of the team’s success, Little Earth of United Tribes (Little Earth) hosted an awards banquet on Aug. 7 at the Little Earth Neighborhood Early Learning Center.

The event included a trophy presentation and the unveiling of new team uniforms, which were designed and funded through a partnership with the Indian Health Board. The uniforms and the Red Bears’ team name were created to honor Trinidad Flores, a 16-year-old Little Earth resident who passed away this April due to complications from a heart transplant.

“Trinidad was the heart and soul of a lot of the youth programming we did,” said Nathan Ratner, Little Earth’s Volunteer Coordinator.

Representatives from the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club (the Twins), another of the program’s partners, were also on hand at the event to distribute back-to-school backpacks to community youth. Over the course of this season, the Twins have invited the team to Target Field for a tour and offered the youth classes on the intersections between science and baseball.

“Our

goal is to be sure that all communities feel welcome at Target Field

and feel part of the Twins organization,” said Ramos. “We work closely

with them, but not only to teach the kids baseball. We want the kids to

be successful and the community to be successful, too.”

The

Little Earth Red Bears’ success highlights the many positive benefits

the baseball program offers to both Little Earth youth and the community

at large.

“We

provide youth with an opportunity to win. That seems like a simple

thing, but for a lot of the youth that participate in our programming,

it’s a big deal because they don’t get the opportunity to win a lot in

their lives or feel like they’re winners,” said Nathan Ratner, Little

Earth’s Volunteer Coordinator. “Starting there I think the positive

effects of this program radiate out.”

The

long-term goal of the baseball program is to encourage youth to become

high school athletes, thereby motivating them to be successful

academically.

“We

believe sports teach them accountability but also a strong work ethic,”

said Ratner. “Not that sports is going to take them through a

professional career, but that those same skills will carry over and

guide them for their entire lives.”

Most

importantly, Ratner feels that the program helps youth to build strong

and meaningful bonds with adults in the community. Muck-wa and

Rose-Marie Roberts, volunteer coaches and Little Earth residents, are

the cornerstones of the program, often working up to 25 hours a week

during the season.

“Having

them as members of the community and as consistent, positive influences

does more good than sports or anything else does,” said Ratner.

“They’re amazing and they’re always there for the kids.”

Rose-Marie,

who has been coaching for over two years, is motivated by the

supportive relationships she is able to build with the players. “I

do it for the kids, to let them know that there are adults who are

willing to take the next step and care about them,” she said.

Muck-wa,

who has seven years of coaching experience, seeks to share the positive

influence sports have had on his life with youth in the community. “Ever since I was younger, I played sports. I believe it kept me out of trouble, so that’s why I do what I do for the kids.”

Youth

at Little Earth enjoy the program because of the lively environment

created by coaches, staff, and their fellow players. Players Jose

Rodriguez, Victor Rodriguez, and Ernesto Rodriguez highlighted their

favorite things about baseball, including batting and pitching.

“My favorite thing is just being out there and participating,” said player Sequoi Bryant. “It’s a fun way to get exercise.”