Taylor wants local baseball ground to grow sport

A specific ground for baseball in Jamaica could be that much closer to a reality according to Jamaica Little League Baseball and Softball district administrator Leon Taylor.

In a bid to continue the local exposure of the sport, Taylor said that they are targeting breaking ground on a baseball-specific venue next year in St Andrew. While Taylor did not give specifics regarding the process, he said that they are in discussions with an undisclosed partner who is interested in the project

“It’s going to be St Andrew because the institution has really embraced the idea and wants to do it. We have not come to a point where we have access to the land to build this facility. I would see that happening in early 2023,” Taylor told The Gleaner. These plans come as Jamaica are preparing to compete in the Caribbean Regional Little League Baseball tournament in Puerto Rico next month.

Meanwhile, Taylor said that they are looking towards completing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would bring them a step closer to their goal.

“We are looking at an MOU for the location where we are planning on establishing the field. Once the MOU is finalised, then we are going into the design stage. We are doing this from scratch and we are looking constructively at our proposal,” he said.

The mound would have a batting cage and a moveable mound for both baseball and softball. Taylor says that while it will help in the overall national programme, he sees the short-term gains for the young players overall in keeping with the principles of Little League.

“The mandate of Little League Baseball is that we want children to be good citizens. We want them to have good character and discipline. And that is what Little League stands for. It is symbolic for a child that may not be outstanding in the sport but to be a person of good character,” Taylor said.