Baseball brings together kids from Cuba and the United States

CUBA beat the United States in baseball, in the category of 14-year-olds, at a match that was more important for taking place than for who won or lost.

Julián Walker tried to speak “a little Spanish,” according to his own words, with Cuban coach Héctor Camejo and other Cuban ballplayers.

“It doesn’t matter who won; what’s great is that we had fun, and that I learned a lot. Baseball is my passion, just like for Cuban kids,” commented the first baseman from Toluca Baseball in Los Angeles after playing the Cuban team.

Esther, the boy’s mother and the trip’s organizer, explained that “last year, we participated in a tournament in New York where we had a great time. We decided to try and come to Cuba this year. It’s an attractive country where the best amateur baseball in the world is played. Besides, I was born here.”

Walker went through the paperwork and obtained a travel license from the U.S. Treasury Department to travel with a group of 25 people and play six exhibition games against Cuban teams.

In 2004, the George W. Bush government increased restrictions on travel to Cuba, but sports exchanges continue to be one of the few categories allowing people from the United States to travel legally to Cuba.

McCawley Taylor celebrated after batting an undisputable hit and bringing in the only two runs by his team during this game, where the home team scored 12.

“I knew the Cubans were good, they’re really good, technically they do everything well!” exclaimed the young pitcher.

Patricia Taylor, whose great-grandmother is Cuban, was happy about her son’s opportunity to travel to Cuba. “It is part of his culture. He was able to see how people are nice and friendly toward him and how Cuban children are open and communicative.”

These games are an excellent experience for his players, including his son Brian, who plays shortstop said coach Luis Mariscal from the U.S.

“The technique is good, but the most important is the heart for playing that the Cubans have. Our players realize that they have to be very attentive and alert,” he added.

For Cuban coach Camejo, “it is a healthy exchange of friendship and solidarity, something that sports fosters, and is very important for the kids.”

Solidarity is precisely what describes the end of this story, Julián Walker recounts.

“I see the material difficulties that the Cuban kids have and I feel a little sad. I admire their motivation for playing and winning. When we leave, we’re going to leave behind all of our equipment: bats, gloves, balls, uniforms, cleats, everything.”

“That makes us happy, because they need it, and that way they’ll have something to remember the kids from the United States. We have the same passion – baseball.” (AP)

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