Mario Escudero has a blueprint to improve the next generation.
It’s a plan the 35-year-old Gilroy resident takes very seriously, which is why he is proud to call himself a coach in the Junior Giants baseball program.
“You can use baseball as a tool to teach values and instill principles that kids can pass on to other kids some day,” Escudero said. “These kids might go on to coach another kid some day and give back. And I think using baseball as a tool is a great, creative idea.”
Junior Giants is the embodiment of that concept.
The San Francisco Giants have won two of the past three World Series titles, but one of the franchise’s more enduring contributions to society is Junior Giants: a program established by the Giants Community Fund in 1994. The program serves about 20,000 children in 85 leagues, mostly in California, according to the Giants’ website. Gilroy and Morgan Hill are among the cities with leagues.
This month, the Giants are making a demonstrative statement about the importance of the Junior Giants program: They’re bringing the 2010 and 2012 World Series trophies on tour only in cities with Junior Giants leagues.
The trophies will be on display from 2 to 4 p.m. Feb. 16 inside the Mexican American Community Services Agency gymnasium at 277 IOOF Ave. in Gilroy, and from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 at St. Catherine’s Church at 17400 Peak Ave. in Morgan Hill. Fans can view the trophies in person on a first-come, first-served basis. A $2 donation to Junior Giants is requested.
In order to get the trophy tour to stop in Gilroy, Christina Soto, manager of Child and Family Services for the local Mexican American Community Services Agency known as MACSA, had to fill out an application and petition for Gilroy to be selected.
The significance of being chosen as a stop on the trophies tour is not lost on players and parents.
“I think that’s exciting for all the children,” Junior Giants parent, Juana Olmos said. “We have the opportunity to see the trophies. I think it’s exciting for everybody.”
Soto said the Gilroy chapter of Junior Giants has grown from about 100 children being involved when she became commissioner in 2003 to about 270 children now.
“It’s evolved into something bigger and better now than when it first started,” she said of the program, which has been in Gilroy since 1987. “I think one of the coolest parts of Junior Giants is, it’s not just that you’re playing a sport – you’re also learning attributes you can use throughout your life.”
Children who play in Junior Giants leagues participate in reading, nutrition and anti-bullying components. The program is free, non-competitive and open for boys and girls ages 5 to 18.
While baseball is fun, players said the program’s emphasis on education and life skills adds meaning.
“It’s a win-win. Even though one team is better than another, you’ll both still win,” said Juana Olmos’ son, Alex Olmos, 10, who played in a Gilroy Junior Giants league last year.
Junior Giants recruitment and registration begins in April, Soto said. Leagues of separate age groups begin play in June.
The program requires coaches to teach players “Four Bases of Character Development,” which include confidence, integrity, leadership and teamwork.
Elizabeth Gonzalez, commissioner of the Morgan Hill Junior Giants, said the program is able to interest youth in reading and nutrition in unique ways because of baseball.
“If you tell them, ‘We’re going to have a reading program,’ they won’t go,” Gonzalez said. “If you tell them, ‘It’s about nutrition,’ they won’t go. But if you incorporate baseball, it works. I know a lot of parents have told us it really works for them.”
Every Junior Giants league is expected to participate in the incentive-based “Round the Bases Reading Program,” which rewards players with a Giants ruler for reading the player handbook, a Giants folder after reading for 240 minutes, a Giants notebook after reading for 480 minutes and a Giants binder after reading for 720 minutes.
“They motivate the children to read,” said Juana Olmos. “They are learning at the same time they are learning baseball.”
Players and parents in the program are given a “Nutrition Lineup” refrigerator magnet to track their fruit and vegetable intake and physical activities.
“What I like about it is, it teaches you how to eat right and drink lots of water, and the reading program,” said Quincy Schultz, who played in a 6 to-9-year-old Gilroy league last season.
Schultz’s father, Mike Gonzalez, said his son enjoyed being with Junior Giants so much last year that he’ll continue playing.
“The sport of baseball, he liked it so much, now he wants to do Gilroy Little League,” said Gonzalez, who plans to coach in a Gilroy Junior Giants league this year. “And when the summer comes around, he’ll be back for Junior Giants.”
Junior Giants players also sign a peace pledge, which includes a statement that they will help prevent bullying.
The eight-week schedule for the program goes from an introduction to health, confidence, education, integrity, leadership, violence prevention and teamwork.
“It’s teaching them integrity, violence prevention, healthy eating and teamwork,” said Sabrina Thomas, who is involved with a Gilroy Junior Giants league as a parent and coach. “That goes a long way, especially when you’re teaching children. I like the fact that it gives kids an opportunity to have fun all summer long. As opposed to video games, they’re actually out there getting physical activity. It makes me happy that the San Francisco Giants give funding to that.”
Junior Giants has two ambassadors for the program in its pair of local Willie Mac Award-winning coaches.
The award, named after Giants Hall of Fame first baseman Willie McCovey, is presented to players and coaches who best exemplify the program’s “Four Bases of Character Development.”
Escudero (Gilroy) and Richard Sandoval (Morgan Hill) won last season’s Willie Mac coaching awards.
“It’s very special. It brought me to tears,” Sandoval said. “That meant a lot to me. Wow, it was a big deal.”
The local Willie Mac Award-winning players in 2012 were Eddy Perez in Gilroy and Elizabeth Esquivel in Morgan Hill.
The trophies tour could be considered a reward for the work put in by Junior Giants coaches and players.
Escudero offered this definition of “integrity” to his players during their introductory phase in 2010: “Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is looking.”
Escudero choked back tears as he displayed a drawing one of his players, Jesse Silos, gave him near the end of the 2010 season. Written next to a stick-figure baseball player were the words: “Integrity is doing the right thing when nobody is looking.”
