ZUNI, NM (Aug. 26, 2024) — For the second consecutive year, the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project welcomed Zuni Pueblo’s youngest ball players to Ho’n A:wan Park for its summer T-Ball League. Made possible with support from Nike and the New Mexico Department of Health’s Healthy Kids Healthy Communities, the four-week program concluded on Friday, Aug. 2.
Thirty-nine 4- and 5-year-olds completed the 2nd Annual T-Ball League, divided into four teams with two community coaches per team. Buffy Brown, Kalil Edaakie, Shanay Edaakie, Mariah Natewa, Synthea Natewa, Michael Owaleon, Anthony Sice and Sara Sice served as community coaches this year; coaches ranged in age from 17 to 47.
Each week included a Wednesday practice at 9-10 a.m. and a Friday game at 9-10 a.m. According to Tyler Sice, ZYEP’s physical activity coordinator, the players progressed tremendously over just four weeks in terms of building confidence, developing skills, and learning to work as a team.
“They became much more independent as their understanding of the sport grew,” Sice said. “They wanted to be on the field by themselves, and they were excited for batting. A lot of kids showed growth in their social interactions as well, making new friends along the way.”
“As the kids got to know each other, they really came out of their shells,” one of the coaches observed. “It also was a real highlight to see what the kids learned, especially for as young as they are — for example, when I saw them scoop up a ground ball rather than trying to stab at it! It showed they were trying, and they were learning.”
The summer program ended on an especially uplifting note. The teams played their final games, and then families gathered for a community potluck meal to celebrate the end of the children’s T-ball season.
“The kids enjoyed their last games with lots of smiles and laughter, and we had bleachers full of families to cheer them on,” Sice said. “We capped off the morning with the potluck. Families brought a variety of dishes to share, with ZYEP providing the main dish. In true baseball fashion, we served hot dogs!”
Sice said this is just the beginning for ZYEP’s T-ball program. Interest continues to increase among families, which means the program might expand to include more teams in the future.
“Thank you to ZYEP for hosting T-ball!” one parent said. “There is no other program like this for 4- and 5-year-olds. This is a great start for the younger generation, and I’m proud to say my son started with ZYEP. This is only the beginning of his athletic career.”
T-ball is the latest addition to ZYEP’s Youth Sport initiative, which also includes seasonal leagues in basketball, soccer and flag football. This initiative allows the youth project to connect with more than 500 youth annually, providing access to mentorship through staff and coaches, camaraderie with teammates throughout the leagues, and powerful community spirit.
To learn more about the Zuni Youth Enrichment Project and its programs, and for information about making donations, partnering with ZYEP, and volunteering, call (505) 782-8000 or visit zyep.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest news and events, follow the nonprofit youth organization on Facebook (/zuniyouthenrichmentproject), Instagram (@zuniyouthenrichmentproject), YouTube (/ZuniYouth), and TikTok (/zyep09)
Founded in 2009, the nonprofit Zuni Youth Enrichment Project is dedicated to promoting resilience among Zuni youth so they will grow into strong, healthy adults who are connected with Zuni traditions. ZYEP fulfills its mission by providing positive role models, enriching programs, and nurturing spaces that contribute to the healthy development of Zuni youth. ZYEP strives to provide every child with the encouragement and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
