Westridge Yankees baseball and softball club’s tireless efforts to get their juniors kitted were finally rewarded with a donation – for both baseball and softball teams – from the National Lottery, earlier this year.
Explaining how the donation came about, the club’s head of juniors, Rae Ripepi said they were unable to get junior kit for a number of years. “We have been the beneficiaries of the National Lotteries Commision after a team, lead by Gary Golding, put together the application that gave us the green light from the NLC,” she said.
“As in any other sports organisation, the uniform is the visible identity of the club. There is great excitement in the club, being able to renew our image, the children are proud and excited to be donning that Yankees colours. For the club, it is a huge positive. It depicts us as a unit, and will hopefully add to reigniting that fierce team spirit that Yankees is known for.”
She also noted they will now be able to look at hosting an inter-school festival rather than worrying about raising funds for the kit. “Hopefully that will encourage a schools league amongsttheneighbouring schools. We are also looking at presenting technical clinics, not only for our own membership, but for educators, sport co-ordinators and any other interested parties, in conjunction with the Baseball Association of Western Province,” she said.
Yankees have four junior baseball teams competing in the under-7, under-10, under-12, under-15 age groups, as well as four softball sides competing in under-10, under-12, under-14 boys and under-14 girls.
She also noted that having their junior teams doing well will mean a brighter future for the club. After a flying start to the Major League season, their first team seemed to be struggling to find their feet as the campaign is approaching business end. They were beaten 12-7 by Durbanville a fortnight ago.
Ripepi urges prospective players, up to 18 years (born in 1999 and after) to contact Deidre Williams on 072 987 2598.
or Ripepi on 074 892 3953.