Belen Little League's opening day turned an ordinary spring Saturday into a full community celebration, featuring a parade, hot dogs and hamburgers, police sirens marking the start, and the Dodgers and Angels taking the field for the season's first game. It's the same day JSKF presented its founding $5,000 donation to the league, and the turnout made clear exactly why we started here.
Key takeaways:
- Belen Little League opened its season with a parade, food, and two teams, the Dodgers and Angels, taking the field.
- The celebration coincided with JSKF's first donation presentation to the league.
- Former University of New Mexico baseball coach Ray Birmingham is advising the foundation.
- Coach Michele Todd described the league as an extended family that never turns a kid away.
Opening day started with a parade through Belen, police sirens signaling the start, and the smell of hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill. The Dodgers and Angels, two of the league's teams, took the field for the season's first game, with families and neighbors turning out to watch.
Ray Birmingham, the former University of New Mexico head baseball coach who now advises JSKF, was there to celebrate the opening with the rest of the community.
"They're gonna have hot dogs and hamburgers and socialize with each other. It's America, baby! That's what it's supposed to be," Birmingham said.
He put the bigger picture plainly: "This is what a town should do to start Little League, because Little League is the best thing that could happen to your community." And: "Community and Americana need to come back, and I'm helping nurture that."
Belen Little League coach Michele Todd has built a home in the league, even without family nearby.
"I'm from California, and I don't have family here, but I've made family here through Little League. They may as well be blood family," Todd said.
That philosophy extends to every kid who shows up: "And I won't turn away a kid. None of us will. We'll make room." She added, "They keep me young. They keep me on my toes. I'm here forever."
This opening day was also the day JSKF presented its first donation, $5,000 for catcher's gear, bases, balls, tees, and jerseys, to Belen Little League. Read the full story of that presentation here. Seeing the parade, the packed sidelines, and coaches like Michele Todd who treat every kid as family is exactly the kind of community JSKF was built to support.
With Belen's season underway, JSKF's next stops are Las Cruces and Albuquerque Little Leagues, following the same model: put resources directly into the hands of local leagues and the coaches who show up for kids every season.
What happened at Belen Little League's opening day?
The league kicked off its season with a parade, food, and the Dodgers and Angels playing the year's first game, drawing out the community to celebrate.
Who is Ray Birmingham?
Ray Birmingham is the former head baseball coach at the University of New Mexico, who now advises the James S. Kunzman Foundation.
What did JSKF do at this event?
JSKF presented its first donation — $5,000 — to Belen Little League on the same day as opening day, funding catcher's gear, bases, balls, tees, and jerseys.
What did Coach Michele Todd say about coaching in Belen?
Todd described the league as a family she built after moving from California, saying she never turns away a kid and always makes room.
Where can I read about JSKF's donation to Belen Little League?
See our earlier post, "New Foundation Launches with $5,000 Gift to Belen Little League."
