Caribbean Classic Players and SSUSA Make Donations in Latin America

Feb. 1, 2020

Members of the Tiburones (Sharks) youth baseball team of Punta Cana, DR, show off their new youth bats.

By Jim Goff

The inaugural Caribbean Classic SSUSA recreational tournament spread “more than just a game” to the Dominican Republic and Venezuela this past January as participating players, supporters and SSUSA itself also spread some goodwill in the form of softball and baseball equipment along with a cash donation.

TeamUSA players were encouraged to bring new or used, youth or adult, softball or baseball equipment with them and they responded generously by stuffing everything from bats to pants to shoes to shin guards and chest protectors in their luggage.  One TeamUSA player donated 15 youth baseball bats; others brought jerseys, stirrup socks, belts, new and used fielding gloves and even batting gloves.

For its part, SSUSA provided dozens of caps, visors, and string backpacks, along with yet more fielding gloves gathered from Sacramento office staff.  Four dozen game balls provided for the tournament were also left behind, supplemented by batting practice balls from the players.

The plan was to have the players bring maybe a used bat here or an old glove there, but some players went above and beyond, buying some new equipment and even paying extra luggage weight fees to their airline to get it all to Punta Cana.  And before the tournament, two large boxes arrived at my house from SSUSA, stuffed to the brim with more things.

Next thing I know, a little old lady friend of my family hears I’m going to the Dominican Republic to play softball, and she wants to give me a cash donation for the kids. She doesn’t know whether the ball is blown up or stuffed with feathers, but she insisted!

A few of the donated items traveled still farther, from the Dominican Republic down to Venezuela, when tournament co-director Tulio Ontiveros carried them home to Caracas, where he combined them with more donations from his senior softball team, the Jurasicos (Jurassics) and presented the combined donation to the Minor De La Salle Baseball School.  Ontiveros reported that the items “Were delivered on behalf of TeamUSA, SSUSA and my local team in Venezuela.  The children and their coaches are very grateful for these supplies that were so lacking.”

TeamUSA player Wayne Bailey from Pennsylvania with a youth player holding the shin guards Bailey gave him.

Caribbean Classic co-director Tulio Ontiveros (in TeamUSA jersey), members of the Minor De La Salle Baseball School, and their coach with donated equipment in Caracas, Venezuela.


Some of the items donated by SSUSA being packed to go to the Dominican Republic.