Youth baseball leagues team up for worldy cause
SVBL raising money to buy proper baseball equipment for team in Africa
By Darleen Principe darleen@theacorn.com

IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers HOMERUN HEROES- This group of 8-and-under All Stars is just one several teams from the Simi Valley Baseball League that will be seeking donations from the community in coming weeks to help benefit Homerun Heroes for Ghana. The program is dedicated to helping provide equipment to baseball programs in the African nation of Ghana and was started by former Dodger outfielder Reggie Smith.

Donations of used sports equipment and apparel for children in Ghana in West Africa, are being sought over the next two weeks by the Simi Valley Baseball League.

The organization is partnering with Encino Little League in a program called Homerun Heroes for Ghana, which was founded in March by parents of players in Encino.

The program aims to help build baseball programs in Ghana, with organizers hoping to make their first shipment in September.

"I really wanted to bring it here to the Simi Valley league," said Ceré Taylor-Ramirez, chair of the SVBL Ghana program.

Former Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Reggie Smith, who runs a baseball academy at the Encino Little League complex, visited Ghana in February after being invited to help the country establish baseball programs. When he returned to the San Fernando Valley, Smith asked the community for help, the Simi program chair said.

Taylor-Ramirez first heard about the program in July during an Encino baseball tournament and was immediately inspired to bring the program to Simi. It's since caught the attention of local politicians like Councilmember Glen Becerra.

"What the league is doing shows that there are things more important, that there are bigger issues out in the world that we should be paying attention to," said Becerra, an SVBL parent.

Homerun Heroes for Ghana will accept everything from used gloves and bats to all sizes of apparel and equipment for other sports.

Taylor-Ramirez will be at the SVBL fields on 3700 Royal Ave. from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. this weekend and next, Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 1819, to gather donations. She'll continue the drive throughout 2008, with another shipment scheduled for the middle of next year.

Any family that makes a donation worth $50 or more in used value will receive an authentic autographed Reggie Smith baseball as a gift.

For further information, e-mail svblGhanaProgram@yahoo.com.