Baseball Barrier Breaker Cheers Local Team Tomorrow

If you’re 10 years old and live for little league, what’s better than getting to show off for your proud grandpa? Well, showing off for your great grandpa. And if you’re seven year-old Mitchell Edmond, and your great grandfather was the first African-American to play for the Cincinnati Reds, you’re going to have to steal a base or two. The Watkins Elementary first grader’s great grandfather Chuck Harmon stole nine in 1955 and boasted a .238 career batting average.

Mitchell is continuing her great grandfather’s legacy by playing in the Hill’s AA little league on a team named the Reds in honor of Mr. Harmon.  He plans to take in his great-granddaughter’s game tomorrow afternoon when the Reds take on the Yankees. This is the inaugural season for Capitol Hill Little League.

I can already feel those kids sweating bullets under their scratchy polyester jerseys. The game starts at noon at Payne Field, located at the intersection of 15th and D streets, SE. Get there early to cheer them on as they warm up and smile big for the paparazzi.