No More Diamond in the Rough for Little League Players

As her oldest child approached 15, Cathy Molina began to worry.

Although the family lives in Highland Park, Joel Molina was allowed to join Eagle Rock’s Little League baseball team because his family lived close enough to qualify.

But once he turned 15, his Little League days were over. He found himself in the same situation his neighborhood friends had been: no opportunity to play organized sports.

Cathy and her husband, Joe, set out to bring organized baseball to their part of the city, something other neighborhoods take for granted.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council commended their efforts.

“Maybe we’ll be talking less about gangs and more about baseball players” as a result of the Molinas’ efforts, Councilman Mike Hernandez told his colleagues.

With their first official year of play already completed, the couple’s efforts to bring Little League and, for the area’s older children, softball and baseball, is getting an extra reward this year.

Starting in April, Northeast Los Angeles Little League will be able to give up what has been a nomadic existence and play ball in its own baseball diamond in Elysian Park--with a perfect view of Dodger Stadium serving as an added incentive to the budding athletes.

Last year, after using their front yard to sign up 186 children ages 9 to 18, the Molinas set their kids up in an abandoned patch of land behind the Lincoln Heights Boys and Girls Club.

The older children moved around, practicing in any existing diamond that would have them, the Molinas said.

“These are good kids. They just needed somewhere to play and something to do to keep themselves occupied,” Cathy Molina said. “We wanted something for them to take pride in.”