DIMANCHE

New Orleans’ Zephyrs might only be minor figures in our local sports scene, but the new field at Wesley Barrow Stadium is doing its part to get some pint-size pitchers to the major leagues. Da’ Mayor, reps from MLB, and even FEMA partnered to create the Urban Youth Academy at the freshly renovated Wesley Barrow Stadium in Pontchartrain Park.

The 55-year-old stadium fell victim to the Federal Flood, and the $6.5 million renovation was the result of a partnership between public, private, and federal funding.

Mayor Mitch relied on one of his classic lines to describe the historic neighborhood’s progress. “We’re not building the way we were before [Katrina], we’re building something the way it always ought to have been.”

The Mayor thanked MLB and FEMA for their interest in New Orleans youth. “I know y’all didn’t love FEMA, but you gotta love ‘em now,” said Landrieu.

An estimated 1500 youths in the area will have access to the new field, which will also provide educational programs such as SAT tutoring, vocational umpiring courses, and stats training. There will also be a T-Ball facility, a softball league for the girls, and indoor batting. All of the services will be free, and are geared towards serving underserved youth in the community.

Student athlete Trey Turner said a few words about what the field means for his future. “I’m afforded this opportunity to polish my skills with instruction from those who have excelled,” said Turner.

Every year, two of the most valuable players will receive a scholarship, sponsored by Ashton Ryan of First NBC Bank.

Former members of the New Orleans Black Pelican League were in the audience, and speakers honored them for paving the way for the young players in the field today.

City Councilmember Cynthia Hedge-Morrell sent a message to the youths that was a theme throughout the presser: The field is an opportunity, and this generation must preserve it in order to keep that opportunity alive.

“You will have it very easy compared to what they had to do,” said Hedge-Morrell, referring to the Black Pelicans.

MLB’s Director of Youth Programs Darrell Miller gave a heartfelt speech in which he praised baseball as the greatest sport in the world. “It is the greatest sport ever created, it mirrors everyday living,” Miller went on, “Tonight, get on your knees, close your eyes, and say, ‘lord, I cannot thank you enough for bringing baseball into our world.’”

Miller also mentioned his little brother, Reggie Miller, a recent inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame. 

 Mayor Mitch followed Miller with a joke. “Uh Darrell, I just got a call on my cell phone from your brother Reggie…” said the mayor, to the tone of a few courtesy laughs.

Former St. Augustine baseball player and State Rep. Austin Badon is thrilled to see such an expansive project devoted to his “all time favorite sport.”

By the end of the presser, Da’ Mayor admitted that this project was not only included in his 100 committed projects, it was in the top ten.