On April 24, 2016, the Little League season kicked off for the community of Santa Rosa with opening ceremonies at the Santa Rosa’s Softball Complex. But before all this was possible, there was a lot of work behind the scenes in order to get schedules organized, team rosters completed, and getting the fields ready for play. This is where Guadalupe County Correctional Facility (GCCF) comes in.
On April 22, 2016, inmates Jay Ulibarri and Gabriel Tovar along with Officer Tommy Archuleta, Food Service Manager Julian Velasquez, Food Service Production Manager Devin Phillips, and Maintenance Technician Nate Romero took the day sprucing up all four baseball fields, parking areas, dugouts, fencing, bleachers, and the concession stand, hanging freshly painted business ad signs on the outfield fence lines, pulling weeds, and clearing rocks.
In 2016, the Santa Rosa Little League Board were comprised entirely of GCCF staff. In the form of a donation, GCCF was able to help purchase new netting for the batting cages. Maintenance Technician Nate Romero, Associate Warden of Programs Gloria Chavez, Food Service Clerk Amanda Anaya, Records Clerk Roberta Lucero, Lieutenant Moises Gallegos, Case Manager Larry Roybal, and Mental Health Director Kristen Esquibel all volunteer to coach teams and Maintenance Technician Joey Campos is an umpire.
All these staff members devote an average of twelve to twenty hours a week coaching and making sure the softball complex is ready for a day of baseball. Not only do they make sure their team is ready to play, but they operate the concession stand and stay at the fields for the duration of game day. Little League President Devin Phillips said there are 186 kids playing baseball this year. This is the most children the City Leagues have ever seen. City Officials have expressed their appreciation for the way GCCF has taken interest in taking care of the City’s Softball Complex and managing the Little League.
