Richmond students step up to the plate in ‘Books and Baseball’ program

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Hundreds of elementary students across Richmond are getting active, learning new skills and discovering a love for baseball thanks to a unique partnership between Richmond Public Schools and local baseball organizations.

This week, the district joined forces with Virginia State University’s baseball team, the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League, and the Richmond Flying Squirrels to bring the “Books and Baseball” program to several elementary schools. The initiative combines physical activity with literacy to give students a well-rounded and fun learning experience.

Throughout the week, district leaders visited Fairfield Court, Oak Grove-Bellemeade and Cardinal elementary schools, where more than 300 students learned how to pitch, hit and catch. Volunteers and college athletes helped guide the young players, many of whom were being introduced to the sport for the first time.

“I feel I know baseball because my brother used to play it and I feel like I can relate to it,” said Mikkiela Thomas, a fifth grader at Cardinal Elementary.

Her classmate, Bruce Alverarez-Ortiz, added, “It was my childhood game to play outside. I love it so much. Yeah. I will never forget it.”

For many of the students, this was their first hands-on experience with baseball — a key goal of the program, according to organizers.

“It's not that they don't want to play, it's that they're not being introduced to the game,” said William Forrester Jr., Executive Director of the Metropolitan Junior Baseball League. “We think this is the perfect opportunity to introduce them to the game. Let them see — and you can see the fun they're having out here now.”

In addition to baseball instruction, students also received baseball-themed books to support literacy. Organizers said the program isn’t just about sports — it’s about opening doors to new opportunities.

“It takes a village,” said Dr. Stefanie Ramsey, Richmond Public Schools Athletics Coordinator. “The more experiences our kids have, the more it exposes them to things in life and the more things they'll be able to do.”

Decarlos Nora, a junior pitcher at VSU, said he’s proud to give back through baseball.

“My dad always told me coming up, baseball was going to be my sport because everyone typically wanted to go for basketball or football. I just wanted to be different... not too many Black people [play baseball],” Nora said.

Students said the program is both fun and inspiring.

“Baseball is fun because you get to try new things,” said Isabella Bradley, another fifth grader at Cardinal.

The excitement doesn’t end here. Richmond Public Schools plans to launch its first elementary baseball league in the spring 2026, with eight schools participating.