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Little League Girls Softball Teams Have Big Plans For Beat Up Field In Camden

By Cherri Gregg

CAMDEN, NJ (CBS) -- More than 100 players from the North Camden Little League girls softball teams are working today to clean up the park where they play, and they've got big dreams for their beat up field.

Located at 10th and Elm in North Camden, the Cornelius Martin Park and Samalica Ortiz Softball Field is referred to as the 10th Street park...why? Because there's no sign or marker. There's also no shaded dugout and the bleachers are busted.

bleachers
(credit: Cherri Gregg/KYW Newsradio)

"Our girls, most of the time sit in the sun," says Shirley Irrizarry, a coach whose daughter also plays for one of the teams. "They get really tired waiting on the games."

Despite the large field, there's only one diamond shared by nine girl softball teams. Plus, the field itself is shared with a soccer team as well. The lack of a dedicated field means trash, rocks and other items on the field, yet Irrizarry has big dreams.

"Our vision is to have a big beautiful green field, just like the boys have over in Pyne Point," she says, referring to the multi-million dollar boys baseball facility just a few blocks away from 19th Street field.

She says the girls are forced to store their equipment in an unused porta potty, they have ill-fitting helmets and old, used equipment that could lead to injuries.

girls softball
(credit: Cherri Gregg/KYW Newsradio)

Coach Josie Rodriguez manages the girls league program and says she's rallying the troops with the hopes that a broad community effort will help close the multi-million dollar gap between the field the boys use, and the one for the girls.

"We're going to be working as a team, as a community step by step in this park," she says, "we're going to clean up the park, rededicate it to Samalica Ortiz, and we want to get it back together."

Rodriguez says they'll also sign a petition for more city resources.

Meanwhile, players like Yanara Torres, 16, will focus on the game.

"As I long as I'm playing the game, it really doesn't matter to me," she says, "but I would like to see it nice for the younger players."

For more go to: www.facebook.com/northcamdenbaseball?fref=ts

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