What began as a community cleanup at the Welches Ball Field on Sunday, 5th July 2026, quickly became something much more meaningful for the young baseball players of the Anguilla Little League. With gloves in hand, weeds to clear and garbage to collect, the afternoon was also filled with encouragement, generosity and a reminder that investing in children often begins with simply showing up.
The event, organised under the Dreamtide “Field of Dreams” initiative, brought together volunteers and young athletes with a shared purpose: to improve the field where many of Anguilla’s aspiring baseball players sometimes spend hours learning the game. Adding to the occasion was the visit of Miss Anguilla 2026 contestant Akéma Carty, who had chosen the Anguilla Little League as one of the charitable organisations she is supporting during her pageant journey.
Before Ms. Carty’s arrival, Anguilla Little League President Lyndon Webster reminded the youngsters why the afternoon mattered. While the immediate task was clearing the field, he encouraged them to think beyond the physical work and understand the value of giving back to the community.
Referring to her social platform and her passion for community development, Webster explained that Ms. Carty had embraced the League’s mission because she believed in helping others without expecting anything in return.
He described that commitment as philanthropy, telling the children that giving one’s time, energy and support freely can have an impact far beyond any personal reward.
Webster urged the players to never take for granted the efforts of the volunteers who dedicate their time to helping the League grow and challenged them to one day carry that same spirit forward by investing in the next generation of Anguillians.
When Ms. Carty arrived, she came bearing more than baseball equipment. Along with members of her Dreamtide team, she brought sandwiches, snacks, beverages and cake for the children, but she made it clear that she had not come simply to hand out donations.
Instead, she spent time getting to know the young players, chatting with them about baseball, asking what positions they played and hearing how they were enjoying the sport. It was an approach that immediately made the visit feel less like a formal appearance and more like a genuine afternoon among friends.
Rather than standing on the sidelines, Ms. Carty joined the cleanup herself, helping to pick up litter and overgrown brush around the field. She admitted she actually found the work surprisingly relaxing, a comment that drew smiles from those working alongside her.
As the afternoon progressed, the children — some initially shy around the pageant contestant — gradually warmed to her easy-going personality. Before long, she was laughing with them, jumping on the trampoline and later sharing slices of cake. The transformation was noticeable; youngsters who had first watched quietly from a distance soon gravitated towards her, chatting freely and enjoying the opportunity to spend time with someone who took interest in them.
The visit concluded with Dreamtide donating baseball equipment, including baseballs and mitts, giving the League additional resources to support its young athletes.
For the children gathered at Welches Ball Field, crowns and pageantry seemed like a distant thought by the end of the afternoon. What they were more likely to remember was someone willing to get her hands dirty beside them, listen to their stories, laugh at their jokes and leave behind equipment that will help them continue playing the game they love.
By Janissa Fleming
