The Dominican 12U team played at East Ridge 12U team today at 2 p.m. at Camp Jordan nd will attend a clinic at McCallie Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon followed by a game at 6:30, also at McCallie.
Ten players, ages 11-13 years old, arrived from Santo Domingo on Saturday, July 16.
They have been to a Braves game, played in Chickamauga against an area team, and have been attending Vacation Bible School and sightseeing.
Operation "Dominican Dream" was the brainchild of Parkway Baptist member Taylor Barnes, who said he was moved to take on the task after a baseball mission trip to the Dominican Republic last year through SCORE International.
"Last year I had 13 kids that were supposed to go (on the trip), but only six ended up making the trip," Barnes recalled. "I couldn't play ball with just six kids, but I couldn't cancel the trip either because the kids that were going had raised all of their money.
"I called Giovanny (Valdez), who works with SCORE in the Domincan about what we could do and he told me to come on with our kids and he would get some of their kids to fill out my team."
Barnes said that the bonds he and his players formed with the three Domincan players that played with them during the week was instant and powerful.
"They just stole our hearts," he added. "It was so hard to drop them back off at their village because we all just knew we would never see them again. I was crying and the kids on the bus were just bawling."
It was right before the bus came to a final stop that Barnes had made up his mind to somehow find a way to bring those kids - a few more - to the States.
"I got off the bus and told them I would find a way to do something," Barnes continued. "I immediately began talking to Giovanny about what it would take to bring a team of players to America and I started planning this as soon as I got back home. I can't believe we're just a week away from them getting here."
The 10 Dominican players were hand-picked by their coach to make the trip to the States, based on academics and off-the-field character as much as on-field baseball skills. The players were responsible for obtaining their own passports, but the money for the rest of the team's expenses in America, including airfare, hotels, meals and other off-the-field activites, are being handled through donations and fund-raising.
Barnes said it will cost nearly $15,000 to bring the 10 players and their coach, Robersy Lara, to town and to take care of them for the week. A youth baseball tournament in Chickamauga this past spring raised a good portion of the funds. Several area business have donated money to the cause, as well as purchased new uniforms and new cleats for the players.
Several Parkway members volunteered to serve as van drivers and cooks for the players during their stay, while others will do everything from assist with VBS crafts and games to washing the team's uniforms on a nightly basis.
The players will also receive back packs, donated by church members, while other Sunday School classes have stepped up to see that every player has at least $50 in spending money while in town.
"The people at Parkway that have been helping or are going to help us out have been unbelievable," Barnes said. "It's just been an awesome thing to see."
The players will also attend three-day of VBS at Parkway, as well as services on Sunday morning and Wednesday night.
A big send-off is set up for Friday, July 22. Following breakfast at their hotel, the team will visit the Chattanooga Aquarium and get their trampoline on at Superfly. After lunch in downtown Chattanooga, the players will enjoy dinner and a pool party at Gilbert Stephenson Park in Fort Oglethorpe that night before flying back home early on Saturday, July 23.
To find out how you can help, contact Parkway Baptist at (706) 866-0325.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net