Class of 2026

¡°Being a part of the Hometown Nine would allow me to represent more minority kids on the baseball field, especially those participating in select/elite baseball.¡±

Diego Bell, an eighth-grader at Catherine Blaine, is no stranger to overcoming adversity and channeling pain into a positive. Diego¡¯s birth father tragically passed from Leukemia when Diego was just one year old. His mother struggled for many years to provide Diego with the resources to continue to play baseball, which is why they applied for the Hometown Nine program. Upon reflection on how his father¡¯s passing affected him, Diego wrote ¡°Not having a dad around in my early years was really difficult. I watched other kids play catch with their father and it sometimes made me feel like something was missing.¡± Despite having lost his birth father, Diego gets support from his mother and his step-father who recently adopted him. Growing up in Magnolia, Diego has experience with being the only kid of color on his baseball team which has left him feeling isolated but inspired to change the culture of baseball for the future. ¡°I go to school in a primarily white neighborhood and for most of my baseball career I was maybe one of only two kids who were minorities on my team. It has been hard as most of the kids on my team are able to afford to play select baseball,¡± says Diego. While he has the passion to commit to select baseball, he was never able to afford the cost of playing and training. Diego and his family felt that the Hometown Nine was a perfect fit for his experience. He wrote ¡°I want to be part of the Hometown Nine because the fellowship would give me the opportunity to learn from professionals about how to be successful, not just with baseball, but with my education as well. In addition, being a part of the Hometown Nine would allow me to represent more minority kids on the baseball field, especially those participating in select/elite baseball.¡± Diego has the goal of playing for the University of Washington baseball team and has aspirations as a future leader. ¡°We have to teach each other, listen to each other, and accept that the generations before us made mistakes. Once we can acknowledge what has happened in the past, then we can begin to make changes in the future. I`d like to see more kids of color playing baseball at all levels.¡±

¡°I come from a bi-racial family myself, and I have heard several stories of both my parents and other family members experiencing racism. I want to help change this to make sure that my brother, myself, and the generations to come will not have to experience this.¡±

Imani Brown resides in Auburn with his parents, little brother, and German Shepard puppy. A scholar at Rainier Middle School, Imani is a 3.9 student with aspirations to attend a four-year university. Imani has been playing baseball since he was a little boy and is supported by a family that is ¡°full of love and care for each other.¡± The shortstop says he wanted to join the Hometown Nine to get him closer to his goal of playing D1 baseball and becoming a professional ballplayer. ¡°I want a chance to train to my fullest potential playing the sport I love,¡± says Imani. ¡°My goals are to continue doing well in school and eventually go to college.¡± Imani, who describes himself as ¡°caring and sensitive,¡± says ¡°I want to help change racism. I come from a bi-racial family myself, and I have heard several stories of both my parents and other family members experiencing racism. I want to help change this to make sure that my brother, myself, and the generations to come will not have to experience this. I think everyone should be treated equally no matter what the color of their skin is, and no matter how much money someone has. ¡°Should he make it to the big leagues, Imani wants to give back. ¡°I want to help save our planet and home from being destroyed so that the next generations have a place to be where they don¡¯t have to worry about problem every minute like climate change or war. I want to make an impact on the world as an athlete and as a person.¡±

¡°The name Roberto Clemente is rooted in the virtues of selfless service and sacrifice. My mother and father, as I have witnessed during the pandemic, represent those same values of service and sacrifice to support our family and community.¡±

Clemente Cotto, named after the late Roberto Clemente, was destined to be a ballplayer and a community leader who values service and sacrifice. ¡°My mother and father named me Clemente after the legendary star of the Pittsburgh Pirates,¡± says Cotto. ¡°The name Roberto Clemente is rooted in the virtues of selfless service and sacrifice.¡± Clemente attributes the same values to his parents who overcame challenges and continued to serve their community during the pandemic. Clemente has loved the game of baseball as long as he can remember, and says ¡°My love for baseball comes from the connection of my name to the environment my parents have raised me in.¡± As a third-generation ballplayer, Clemente uses the sport as a vehicle to nurture connection with his father. From waking up at 6:00 am to practice before school, to working out early with other Little League teammates, baseball is a priority for Clemente. Outside of the sport, Clemente is highly engaged in his community through volunteer work and does Speech, Debate, Robotics, and Tap. He attributes who is today to his mother and father, who have continued to be a steady and supportive foundation for their family despite the tragic loss of their son, Salvador, in an accident in 2011.Clemente writes ¡°I want to be a Hometown Nine Fellow to continue the legacy of sacrifice and service they have established and continue to have in our community. It is my desire to follow my parents in their quest to serve the community and make Seattle a great place,¡± says Clemente. Aside from playing baseball in college, Clemente wants to pursue a STEM degree. In addition to wanting to follow in the footsteps of his parents and namesake, he wants to help unify communities. ¡°I have a lot of friends from different backgrounds. I want to help merge classes into a more friendly environment,¡± writes Clemente. Above all else, Clemente dedicates his accomplishments to his late brother, stating ¡°My brother is one of the reasons I want to be in the Hometown Nine.¡±

¡°I noticed the difference between who can get access to the vaccine and who can¡¯t, especially people of color and low-income families. I want to make sure everyone gets good information to decide what to do and get equal access to the medicine they need.¡±

Josephine is an incoming eighth-grader at the Seattle Academy of Arts and Science who resides in Seattle with her parents and older sister. Josephine is a decorated six-year softball player who has been named Most Improved (2018) and Outstanding Tournament Player (2018, 2019, and 2021). Her determination on the softball field carries over to the classroom, too, where she is on the Honor Roll. Outside of softball, Joie loves to cook and "do science." She follows in the footsteps of her sister, who was an All-State shortstop for the State Champion Garfield High School Softball team in 2019. Josephine attributes her inspiration to play softball to her sister and dad. She writes "Softball is probably my favorite thing and I like getting better and improving all the time." Like her peers in the Hometown Nine program, Joie aspires to "Play Division 1 softball and maybe be an Olympic softball player." Aside from her on-field endeavors, Josephine wants to turn her passion for science into an avenue for creating change in her community. "I want to help create vaccines to save people's lives," says Joie. She was attuned to the inequities in vaccine distribution and how communities of color were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. "This is important because of what I've seen happen during the pandemic," says Joie. "I noticed the difference between who can get access to the vaccine and who can't, especially people of color and low income families. I want to make sure everyone gets good information to decide what to do and get equal access to the medicine they need."

¡° I think my generation can make a better future by showing kids younger than us that it¡¯s cool to stay in school, cool to get good grades, cool to not use drugs, cool to play sports and to give back to your community.¡±

Kingston Edwards, a 13-year old shortstop and pitcher, is in his ninth year of playing the game he loves. Kingston is the youngest of four, and says he loves sports and music. Family is at the heart of Kingston¡¯s world. ¡°My dad is African American, and my mama is Filipino,¡± says Kingston. His brother, Damani has Cerebral Palsy which has taught Kingston the power of strength and resilience. 2021 was a difficult year for the Edwards family, as Kingston lost his grandmothers within nine months of each other and lost his dog, Ali, who had been with him since he was two years old. ¡°Despite all the loss, my family remains strong,¡± says Kingston. He attributes his strength to his support system of family, friends, and his teammates on his Baseball Beyond Borders teams. His goals for the future are to graduate high school and get drafted, but he admits he thinks getting a college degree is a good choice. ¡°I would like to participate in the Hometown Nine because I would love to be a Major League Baseball player one day and if not, then an MLB coach. I feel like Hometown Nine will show me how a professional team is running and give me an opportunity to pick the brains of some MLB coaches and players and do some cool fun stuff that I saw some of my teammates get to do,¡± says Kingston. Kingston hopes that his platform as a professional baseball player can help inspire youth to think that it¡¯s ¡°cool to stay in school, cool to get good grades, cool to not use drugs, cool to play sports and to give back to your community.¡±

¡°I can learn how to be a leader for the next generation of athletes, especially young girls with my diverse background.¡±

Isabella Garcia is a 13-year old softball player who identifies as ¡°Mexican and Chamorro, ¡°as her mother is a Pacific Islander from Guam. Isabella is proud of her heritage and says, ¡°being from two different ethnic backgrounds has not only made my food palette diverse but also has made me appreciate who I am as an individual.¡± She describes herself as ¡°quite introverted¡± but says she ¡°will easily open up to someone who shares her sense of humor.¡± Aside from her ability to make quick friends, Isabella is also resilient and determined. She picked up softball at age six, and she has been ¡°hooked¡± ever since. During her first tryout for a select softball team, she did not make the cut. Instead of getting discouraged, Isabella took the criticism and advice from her coach and channeled her energy into improving. ¡°Instead of being sad about it, I started getting better,¡± says Isabela. ¡°I built up my softball IQ by watching softball and baseball games. Every opportunity is a learning opportunity.¡± Since being cut, Isabella has improved and says the experience taught her that ¡°Hard work and sacrifice go a long way.¡± ¡°That is what makes me, ME,¡± she says. When asked why she wanted to be a member of the Hometown Nine, Isabella stated ¡°I can learn how to control my emotions under pressure from those that have been there. I can learn how to be a leader for the next generation of athletes, especially young girls with my diverse background.¡± Isabella is also attuned to the challenges that the next generation faces like ¡°racial inequity, social injustice, climate change, financial security, and access to equal opportunities.¡± She is especially concerned about mental health outcomes for youth, as she struggled with anxiety during the pandemic ¡°The pandemic made me feel lonely even though I saw friends virtually.¡± ¡°The pandemic affected kids mentally because they were lost.¡± While the pandemic caused Isabella to experience significant anxiety, she wants to channel her struggles into helping others. ¡°As an individual I can help create a better future by helping others cope with mental health issues. I am a good listener. I want to make others feel included and important! Everyone has different problems and being there for another person can help their mental health tremendously. I often think about the kids who don¡¯t have a hobby, friends, or an outlet to be themselves. I want them to see how playing a sport can mean an opportunity to make new friends, to learn how to be comfortable in your own skin and be yourself.¡±

¡°I want to use my voice and represent my culture in the sport of softball for what I feel that it has provided me: self-confidence, value of team, and community.¡±

Kaila (Kai) is a 13-year old softball player from West Seattle who attends Madison Middle School. Kai has been playing softball for over eight years, and competes with Absolute Blast out of Woodinville, WA. Kai learned of the Hometown Nine program from her friend, and Hometown Nine Fellow, Michelle Arimura, and was inspired to apply. ¡°I applied to the Hometown Nine for several reasons,¡± says Kai. ¡°I want to use my voice and represent my culture in the sport of softball for what I feel that it has provided me: self-confidence, value of team, and community.¡± When asked why she was drawn to softball, Kai described her family of five as ¡°very much sports oriented¡± with three siblings who are all involved in little league, football, and softball. Kai describes herself as ¡°kind, compassionate, resilient, caring, and energetic.¡± When her family moved from Texas to Washington while she was in elementary school, Kai mostly kept to herself. She says that now she ¡°jumps in to contribute¡± where she can and now ¡°feels a sense of pride living here and appreciating what the city has to offer.¡± At her young age, Ignacio is no stranger to adversity. When she was in the third grade, she was diagnosed with Dyslexia which compounded her anxiety. After learning how to cope, she now says that she can be present and ¡°consciously aware of how to continually improve.¡± When prompted about her goals for the future, Kai responded that she would like to ¡°attend a Division 1¡± school for ¡°both my sport and my continued education.¡± With a mother who is a lifelong educator, Kai wrote ¡°I would like to follow in her footsteps,¡± and ¡°I have seen her help individuals and families live better and fuller lives.¡± What does she want to see for her generation? ¡°Being aware and respecting the cultural makeup of our community, be it in ethnicity, religion, gender and everything else.¡± In addition to completing her post-secondary education, playing Division 1 softball, and becoming an educator, Kai wants to use her sport as a vehicle for change. ¡°I would like to use my sport as an avenue for good,¡± says Kai. ¡°Good in creating continuing improvement in our community with better understandings of our differences and creating opportunities for others that otherwise wouldn't exist.¡±

¡°I think living with my Grandmother and playing baseball has given me a purpose and kept me away from the street life that my parents are into.¡±

Carl Lindsey is a 13-year old outfielder who lives with his grandmother and brother in Central Seattle. Carl has played baseball for nine years and uses the sport as an outlet and positive motivating factor in his life. ¡°I think living with my grandmother and playing baseball has given me a purpose and kept me away from the street life that my parents are into,¡± says Carl. Despite a challenging family dynamic, Carl stays positive by participating in baseball and scootering, and ¡°figuring out how mechanical things work.¡± As an aspiring engineer Carl says ¡°Since I was really little, I have been taking things apart and putting them together. I used to go into the recycle to get parts for making things. I have taken some electronics and circuit bending classes and did well with that too.¡± While he loves to build things and experiment, Carl says his favorite thing to do is practice for baseball. ¡°I want to be a Hometown Nine Fellow because I think it would help me with my goals of doing better at baseball and doing better in school,¡± says Carl. His career goal is to become a Major League Baseball player but says ¡°I know I need to go to college and get a degree first.¡± For future generations, Carl hopes there is more awareness around racial inequities and social injustices. ¡°What I would most like to do to create a better future is to help to end racism. I want Black people and other people of color to be safe to live their lives without worrying about being killed by the police or discrimination,¡± writes Carl. ¡°We want the world to be fair for everyone.¡±