The history of The Pitch in Sosúa and making the Pitch for history

Renn Loren

From conversations with Hugh Baver

Sosua

The history of the current Sosua Municipal baseball field is a long one stemming back to the original Jewish refugee settlers who arrived here in Sosua back in the 1940s following the Évian Conference of 1938. At that Conference convened at the Hotel Royal in Évian, France the Dominican Republic was the only country that agreed to widen their immigration quotas and open their doors as a safe haven to fleeing European refugees.

One of the original properties deeded to the Jewish community through DORSA (an acronym for the Dominican Republic Settlement Association), the current baseball field is situated in the center of town directly across the street from the original Sosua synagogue and a small museum. First used as the overall recreational field for football (soccer) and other sports for the growing refugee community and native Dominicans in the surrounding area the field has seen a lot of action in 75 years.

Photo captured Circa late 1940’s at the soccer “pitch” coincidentally also a name used for a football/soccer field

Caption: With Productos Sosua soccer team in the 1950’s Arturo Kirchheimer (far right) as coach and manager

For the past 30 years, all baseball operations at the Sosua Community field have been managed by the Rosario brothers, Frank and Juan, having officially established the Liga Juan Rosario in 1994. Assisting them in this has been their nephew Melvin “Bodega” Castillo. For the past ten years, Bodega has managed the “Pampers” division of boys aged 5-10 years old. This family’s comprehensive care and commitment to the youth players and the upkeep of the field and playing conditions have brought us to today.

Recent photo taken at Sosua Municipal baseball field with Pitch day-to-day Operations Manager Melvin “Bodega” Castillo (Center) and his two uncles, brothers Juan (left) and Frank (right) Rosario

Painted banner on outfield wall denoting the official founding of the League here

Over the years the “family run” field has seen its fair share of great ballplayers come through the area including a group of current minor league level players who frequently stop by the field to practice during the offseason.

From L to R: in blue Jonny Brito, currently with the NY Yankees, wearing Cincinnati Reds gear is Danismel Tavarez, then Pitch owner Hugh Baver in Red Sox World Series shirt, then “Tinito”, signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Bodega in the forefront, the others are all aspiring baseball players but not yet signed professionally.

Believing credit should be given where credit is due Pitch owner Baver emphasizes: “None of this would be possible without the profound vision and energy devoted by The Pitch Founder Russ Wieser who opened the small facility back in 2017 offering free swings to the local youth. After a tremendous amount of clean up, he converted the seemingly unproductive sliver of land behind the right-field wall into a place of refuge and constructive productivity for hundreds of young players who waited in line to take turns for the free 20 pitch session in “the cage.”

May 2019 photo of Wieser being presented with a plaque of appreciation from Bodega on behalf of Liga Juan Rosario

Russ Wieser‘s Story from previous Dominican Today feature article.

Eager aspiring ballplayers waiting in line for their turn to take their free swings at The Pitch

Baver first met Wieser at the Sosua ballfield back in December of 2018 and then again on multiple visits to the field throughout the first half of 2019. In mid-May of 2019, Wieser relocated to reside in Europe, leaving the facility in the solely capable hands of his day to day assistant Melvin “Bodega” Castillo.

Recognizing the complexities of managing The Pitch program from afar and with the facility in danger of complete closure due to lack of adequate funding in February 2020, Weiser sold Baver the assets and the rights to the Pitch, which Baver now owns and manages.

There was no financial assistance offered to either the Sosua municipal Field or The Pitch via the previous Mayoral administration. Baver now looks forward under the direction and leadership of new Sosua Mayor “Willy” Olivences to find sustaining sources of funding for this vital beneficial community program that has consistently served our youth here. 

As a testament to the value of the batting cage, Russ’s vision paid dividends as last year’s 2019 Dominican Little League Champions practiced at the field here and took many practice swings at The Pitch facility. 

“Bodega” (L) and Baver (R) in front of 2019 Dominican Little League Championship team banner which now hangs on the exterior fence of the Sosua baseball field by in front if The Pitch

Now that the country and community are beginning to re-open and the presidential election is over, the stage is set for an end of the month or early August Pitch rededication ceremony at the Sosua community baseball field. 

With an exact date and time forthcoming, the rededication ceremony will be keynoted by Sosua Mayor Olivences and attended by other Dominican leaders and special guest dignitaries. It will also feature naming the Pitch training facility in honor of Dominican and MLB Toronto Blue Jays World Series great Tony Fernandez.

Next up: “Sponsors fund hope for the future.”