Youth Baseball Back In North Tulsa

By Rick Wells, The News On 6

TULSA, OK -- It has long been a dream to get youth baseball going again in North Tulsa. With lots of help from an outreach ministry and many volunteers, the Tulsa Little League Dream Team took the field this season.

Tulsa Little League Dream Team is sponsored by the North Tulsa's Dream Center, an outreach ministry of Victory Christian Center.

Michael Pansano is one of the assistant coaches.

We found out about the team when The News On 6 did a story about World Baseball Outreach. It turns out they helped with uniforms, equipment and some indoor training.

The remarkable thing about this group of 9 and 10-year-olds is they have never played the game before.

"These kids started with no understanding. I had to tell them how many strikes they got," said Les Cypret, the team's head coach.

Every game he says they see progress. The game went pretty much the way you'd expect -- there were bad throws and dropped throws between batters boredom, between innings housekeeping. Then every now and then, there'd be a spark.

They are learning a new sport, learning about teamwork and developing new skills.

Tulsa Little League Dream Team is not the season's best baseball team, but they are easily the season's best baseball story.

"It's been a blast. We've had a great time," said Les Cypret.

The folks at North Tulsa's Dream Center say the season was a huge success and they plan to expand the program next year.