A West Columbia couple spent Easter in Belize, but it wasn’t a vacation.

Sybil and Ralph Jarrells have collected and sent baseball equipment to youth teams in the Latin American country.

This time they took a suitcase packed with 20 baseball gloves and 18 baseball jerseys needed to complete the equipment for two more teams.

It was a special Holy Week for the Sybil League.

They visited Pastors Sharon and Victor Hernandez and Sybil’s boys and girls teams.

That’s what Sybil Jarrells calls the almost 500 boys and girls playing baseball and softball with the equipment they donated.

“The wonderful people of Lexington County donated equipment along with the Lexington County Blowfish baseball team, the Lexington County Chronicle, West Metro Rotary, Tray Love and others,” Ralph Jarrells said.

“Thanks to Tray Love’s donations, an Irmo team will be playing baseball in a foreign country.”

Their ministry started 3 years ago when Pastor Victor told them, “We have 90 boys who want to play little league and we have 2 bats, 2 balls and 2 gloves.”

Now almost 500 children in the poorest district of Belize have the opportunity to play baseball and softball.

The program started with boys but due to girls’ interest, the league expanded to softball for them.

T-ball will be added this year for younger children.

Belize is the only Central American country with no organized baseball.

Formerly British Honduras, Belize children played soccer but not baseball.

Coaches hold Bible studies before practices and games.

Although 36 teams are playing, 17 teams are waiting for equipment.

Donations are needed

Belize Baseball was originated by the Jarrells’ 501(c) (3) organization, James 1:27. Donations are tax-deductible. Usable equipment and money are needed.

“Harvest Aviation makes getting the equipment to Belize possible at no cost,” Jarrells said.

“Toledo Faith Outreach Christian Center is the center of the program.”

The program brings Toledo District people together even with their differences.

Christian, Methodist, Baptist and Roman Catholic churches all have teams.

The Sybil League also crosses ethnic lines as Mestizo, Creole, Q’eqchi, Maya, Garifuna, East Indian and other ethnic groups play.

Covid restriction on contact sports is expected to be lifted in Belize this month.

There was a smile on Sybil’s face as she handed out the gloves and told the players how her son started playing little league and won a full scholarship at West Georgia University.

She said, “I know what little baseball can mean.”