KNOCKS IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK
THE EDWARD M. DWECK DSN SUMMER BASEBALL LEAGUE BEGAN 8 YEARS AGO WITH ONLY 6 TEAMS AND 60 PLAYERS. FAST FORWARD TO THIS PAST SUMMER TO WITNESS 48 TEAMS AND 470 PLAYERS—A HOMERUN BY ALL ACCOUNTS!
DSN’s summer baseball league screams success. How does one measure success? Take your pick—from the number of teams and players, to the qualitatively more important smiling faces of the children, to the involvement of parents who coach the children, to the filled seats of spectators cheering along. Success? You bet!
The league began on June 26th and continued throughout the summer, culminating on August 28th with World Series games. Each Sunday morning, players from kindergarten through 9th grade donned their personalized jerseys along with their team baseball caps, pants and socks.
Jeffrey Ashear, who has been a head coach since the league’s inception said, “I love DSN baseball! It is well-executed and critical for our kids’ development. That’s why I coach. I enjoy it, and more importantly the kids learn a lot and they have a blast too!”
Some age groups are so large that they are split into two separate divisions with a World Series winner for each division. That means two championship teams for the same age group. This year’s winning teams included:
Kindergarten: Mets with Coach Ikey Douek
1st Grade: Reds with Coach Ezra Sultan
1st Grade: Mets with Coach Nathan Zalta
2nd Grade: Reds with Coach Allan Sasson
2nd Grade: White Sox with Coach Ralph Terzi
3rd-4th Grades: Pirates with Coach Isaac Gammal
3rd-4th Grades: A’s with Coach David Gindi
5th-6th Grades: Dodgers with Coach Richie Mizrachi
7-9th Grades: Yankees with Coach Sammy Esses
Sol Chehebar, coach for the Reds was elated. “Both of my sons played this year. We had a great team and a great time. I’ve been coaching for years and each year is better than the last. I don’t even know how the league can improve for next year!”
Sol Chehebar, coach for the Reds was elated. “Both of my sons played this year. We had a great team and a great time. I’ve been coaching for years and each year is better than the last. I don’t even know how the league can improve for next year!”
The end-of-season Trophy Ceremony is a summer staple and highlight, with 600 people attending this year. It consisted of a fully catered dinner for players and their families with speeches, a summer recap video, trophies, a photo booth, and a baseball yearbook. A great time was had by all. Coach awards were distributed, voted upon by their peers. Ezra Sultan, coach for the Reds 1st graders, has been coaching for many years. He said, “I can see the confidence the kids receive in the DSN league. On the field, they love making a great hit or catch. The trophy ceremony is amazing. At the ceremony, they love to see pictures and videos of themselves. They enjoyed dinner and receiving remarkable trophies that they cherish and display.”
Alfred Harary, a 9th grade player, explained why he keeps playing, “I’ve learned the skills—running, throwing and so forth. Over the years I’ve seen what else I’ve learned that I can apply to the rest of my life, like how to hustle, how to focus, how to be a team player, and how to deal with a loss. Baseball has been a great teacher. I am thankful DSN has given me and so many other boys this opportunity.”
DSN Sports Director Sports Director Jon Entel runs all of DSN’s leagues. He explained, “Understanding all the hard work that goes into securing the fields, making the teams, getting the coaches and setting up every Sunday, it is rewarding to see the kids and parents thrilled and coming back every year for more.”
DSN’s Executive Director Sammy Sitt summarized, “Sunday Sports is at the heart of what DSN has been doing since its inception. Bringing children, parents, grandparents and friends together to cheer, laugh and spend quality time with each other is exactly what DSN does best. These moments are what makes us a community. I am very proud of DSN’s Jon Entel, David Belhassen and Eddie Anzerouth for working hard every Sunday morning to make it all happen. We have the best team, executing the best programs for the best community!”
