Tim Spoonster, director of North End Citizens for Community Action, said 91 children ages 5 to 12 came out the first night to North End Park. But with high temperatures this summer the number dropped to around 40 each week.
“We wanted to see kids have the same opportunity here as they’d have anywhere else,” Spoonster said.
Spoonster said North End Park is special to the program because that’s where the late Joe Nuxhall was playing when he was recruited by the Cincinnati Reds.
“It’s an important link with heritage,” Spoonster said. “It was amazing (to see the kids). They didn’t want to stop playing regardless of rain, heat, or it being Saturday.”
Mayor Pat Moeller, coach and sponsor this year, said with the addition of character lessons, the program was able to help the participants no matter their skill level.
“It gave youngsters who don’t normally have baseball experience a chance to get on a baseball field in their neighborhood,” Moeller said.
Spoonster said without the help of the Reds Community Fund and Kim Nuxhall at the Reds Rookie Success League of Butler County, the program wouldn’t have happened.
Spoonster, alongside Jim and Vicki Brandner and Jim and Linda Campbell, has begun planning for next year’s program. He said it will happen as long as necessary funds come through.
“We’ve established the expectation that this should happen,” Spoonster said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2179 or hpoturalski@coxohio.com.
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