Baseball continues to gain ground in Anguilla, with a growing community of young players and steady support helping to shape the sport’s future on the island.
That support was on full display on Thursday, 2nd April 2026, when the League received a major injection of support from “Pitch In” Baseball, a Miami-based non-profit organisation committed to expanding access to the sport. The visit marked more than just a donation; it signalled a deliberate effort to strengthen and grow baseball on an island where the game is still developing.
Over 250 pieces of equipment — including bats, gloves, helmets, catcher’s gear and practice uniforms — were handed out. Players also received custom-designed game uniforms, along with cleats and baseball bags, giving the team not only the tools to play, but a sense of identity and pride.
On the field, meanwhile, the practicing continued: younger children worked through the mechanics of hitting while older players refined their throwing and catching techniques. Coaches and volunteers moved between groups, offering guidance and encouragement as players built on their existing skills.
The driving force behind “Pitch In” Baseball is its founder, Vinay Rajadhyaksha, who started the charity at just nine years old after a simple but formative experience. “I originally lost my glove, and my dad showed me a video of kids in the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico who weren’t as fortunate to simply just get another glove,” he said. “That inspired me to start a baseball charity to give others opportunity to play.” Now at age 14, he has spent five years collecting equipment across Miami and distributing it to underserved communities throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
His connection to Anguilla came through Mr. Lyndon Webster, the man spearheading the local league. “We had worked with him in Miami… and when he moved to Anguilla, he reached out to us and said, ‘I want to start a little league here… can you help us?’ That’s how we got referred,” Rajadhyaksha explained.
For Webster, the moment reflected both the challenges and the progress of building a sport from scratch. “When I came here, there was virtually no baseball players,” he said. “We’re trying to build something from nothing.” He praised the Rajadhyaksha family’s hands-on involvement, noting that their support extends beyond donations. “Not only did he send equipment, but he came himself… he wants to see this programme grow.”
Addressing the young players, Webster stressed that the initiative is about far more than learning a new sport. “We want you to learn the game, have fun, be a great teammate, a great citizen, a great ambassador for the game,” he said. “That’s the idea — pitching in to help you realise your baseball goals and dreams.”
Support from the private sector has also played a key role, with Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla stepping forward as a partner. Tiffany Moore, representing the resort, emphasised the importance of such initiatives for youth development. “We are always looking for opportunities to assist our community, and we are very much grateful to be part of this initiative,” she said.
Rajadhyaksha echoed the broader purpose behind the effort. “This trip was about more than equipment — it was about opportunity,” he said, adding that his goal is for every child to have the chance to experience and enjoy the sport.
With plans already in motion for Anguilla Little League to participate in the Caribbean World Series in Puerto Rico in July 2026, the programme is setting its sights beyond local development. For now, however, the focus remains on steady growth — deepening skills, building confidence and giving young players a reason to keep returning to the field.
By Janissa Fleming
