Governor praises young athletes from St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John for a weekend of teamwork, sportsmanship and community pride at the refurbished Reinholdt Jackson Ballpark
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr, today congratulated the participating players, coaches, families, volunteers and organizers following the annual Virgin Islands Little League Baseball Showcase held this past weekend at the Reinholdt Jackson Ballpark in Estate Whim, St. Croix.
The weekend showcase brought together young athletes from the St. Croix and St. Thomas-St. John districts competing in the 8U, 10U and 12U divisions. The annual event also serves as part of the final selection process for the Virgin Islands Little League teams that will represent the Territory in the upcoming Latin America Caribbean Tournament, except for the 8U division.
Governor Bryan congratulated the winning teams and praised all of the players who took the field for their energy, discipline, teamwork and sportsmanship throughout the three-day showcase.
“This weekend was about our young people being outside, competing, learning teamwork, building confidence and representing their families, their islands and the Virgin Islands with pride,” Governor Bryan said. “I congratulate the winning teams, but I also want every player who stepped on that field to know that they made this Territory proud.”
Governor Bryan extended special thanks to the U.S. Virgin Islands Little League District, the Elmo Plaskett Little League, the Elrod Hendricks Little League, coaches, umpires, parents, families and volunteers who helped make the weekend possible.
“These tournaments happen because coaches give their time, parents show up, volunteers work behind the scenes, and organizations like the U.S. Virgin Islands Little League District continue to believe in our children,” the governor said. “That kind of service keeps youth sports alive and gives our young people something positive to build on.”
The Governor said the weekend’s games also showed why the Bryan-Roach Administration has made the repair, improvement, and reopening of public recreational spaces a priority across the Territory. He said investments in ballparks, courts, playgrounds and sports facilities are investments in safer communities, healthier families and stronger opportunities for young people.
“When we invest in ballparks and recreational spaces, we are creating places where families gather, where children learn discipline, where coaches become mentors and where communities come back together,” Governor Bryan said. “We want our young people outside, active and involved in positive activities that help them grow.”
Reinholdt Jackson Ballpark is among the public recreational facilities that have benefited from the Administration’s broader effort to renovate and restore sports spaces across St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. Through the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation, the Office of Disaster Recovery and federal partners, the Administration has advanced improvements to ballparks and sports facilities across the Territory, including Reinholdt Jackson Ballpark on St. Croix, along with upgraded recreational spaces on St. Thomas and St. John. Those investments are aimed at returning safe, welcoming and functional public spaces to the families, athletes, coaches and communities that depend on them.
Governor Bryan said seeing young athletes compete in a renewed facility is one of the clearest reminders of why those investments matter.
“Seeing our children compete on a renewed facility reminds us why these investments matter,” Governor Bryan said. “In the Virgin Islands, our public recreational spaces are where families gather, where coaches shape discipline and character, and where young people learn they belong to something bigger than themselves. That is why we made these investments, and why we will continue improving the public spaces that strengthen our communities.”
The Bryan-Roach Administration congratulates all teams that participated in the Virgin Islands Little League Baseball Showcase and extends best wishes to the players selected to represent the Virgin Islands in upcoming tournament play.
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