http://www.positivecoach.org/subcontent.aspx?SecID=382
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS the Las Vegas
Junior Giants program has been gaining momentum and quickly
FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS The Las Vegas Junior Giants program has been
gaining momentum and quickly becoming a youth baseball program for
young kids to flourish. The program isunlike most in that young athletes will
learn baseball but will also learn teamwork,confidence, leadership and
integrity. It is the four bases of JuniorGiants character that the program
lives by.
Also unlike most youth baseball programs,this one is free! There is no cost
to be on the team and no cost forequipment. However, unlike the competitive
teams in the valley this is a program that turns away no one and is
not bent on winning the games rather winning in life. The team doesn’t even
play in a league rather they have enough kids to form their own league
within the Junior Giants program.
Coach Gene Tate came to Las Vegas five years ago from Palo Alto California
to start this program. While in Northern California he earned national recognition
as a coach and a person who changed a community. Tate earned his
praise for taking a drug ridden area and park and turned it into a safe
haven for youth baseball players in the East Palo Alto Tee Ball Program.
Now, with the help of the Junior Giants program all throughout Northern
& Central California, Tate has brought a youth baseball program to
our valley that he should be proud of. With over 400 of the valley’s youth having
passed through this program thus far and more joining every day the
future looks bright. “We teach the kids baseball, but we
also teach them life skills and through baseball they can gain character,” said
Coach Gene Tate.
The San Francisco Giants donate to all the programs by lending equipment
such as gloves, bats and more. The youth program was started by former
Giants Manager, Dusty Baker and every August the local team goes to San
Francisco to watch a game and meet the players.
The season for the local Junior Giants runs from January through April
but the team is practicing right now. The program currently has about 140
kids and has room to grow. They are also always looking for good baseball
coaches to volunteer their time.
Guest:Coach Gene Tate was born in St. Louis, MO and moved to East Palo Alto, CA at the age of 12 and began coaching Little League at a young age.He's a Vietnam Veteran and started East Palo Alto T-Ball Pitching Machine in 1992 to teach Baseball and Life Skills to young peopleIn 2012 he became part of Piper Davis Baseball Program to continue to teach Baseball and Life Skills.Clink on this link to listen: