For 10-year-old Ryan, returning to a local baseball league run by London police is a way to get active and offer guidance to first time players.
Ryan entered his second season with the Rookie Ball League at Vauxhall Park on Wednesday. He's one of roughly 70 kids between the ages of eight and eleven, divided into four teams to make up the league.
As a returning player on the Yellow team, Ryan says he's there to offer help to first timers.
"People are really active and really good at the game, and I like to support some of the new people,” he says.
Ryan says his step-dad has been helping him practice, which has grown his love for the outfielder position.
"Sometimes when the ball gets there, you can dive for it, and it's [the grass] soft instead of hard,” says Ryan.
He hopes to bring lots of energy to his team and optimistically predicts they will be “a bit better than last year."
But none of this would be possible without the organization of the London Police Service. It's officers and civilian employees coach the teams, while the London Majors handle pitching and umpire duties.
The first pitch of the season was thrown by Chief John Pare.
"I give credit to the community that keeps coming back and helping with sponsoring this program, to allow our members and the community to continue this great initiative,” says Pare.
Pare believes that while the league gives kids the chance to play baseball and connect with other children their age, it also allows them to see the human side of police officers.
"It's a great opportunity for police officers to work with youth, and allow them to see us as humans, rather than the uniform so much,” says Pare. “It's an opportunity to gain some trust and some respect and understanding of issues and concerns, and trying to make a difference."
Genie Weber, a civilian employee for the London Police Service, has acted as head coach for a few years. She says that ever year, the rewards of working with the team are very evident.
"Just seeing the kids work together and come together as a group and the development they get over the weeks we have, that's the best part," says Weber
Weber insists that not only do the kids love the game, but the volunteers get equal satisfaction for their efforts.
"They enjoy it, and you get a lot out of it too,” says Weber.
The season is six weeks long with the final set for Wednesday, August 10 at Labatt Park.
**This story was written by Samuel Gallant. Samuel is a student in the Fanshawe College broadcast journalism program. He is performing a summer internship with Blackburn News.**
