A team of their own: New baseball squad represents Willmar’s Latino community

Before his team took the field in Willmar for a recent game, Jean Morales encouraged them to play with joy. Baseball is a humbling sport, the manager said. At-bats end in outs far more often than in hits. A shortstop can field nine clean ground balls only to be remembered for one costly error. So Morales tells his players to have fun out there above all.  “We play the game happy and loud and with heart,” he said. “I feel like I’m playing back home with them.” Back home for Morales is Puerto Rico, where he grew up playing baseball. Knowing how many fellow Latinos in the Willmar area shared his love for the game, he decided to start a new amateur team for them this year.  The Willmar Indians, including Morales, is composed of players with Nicaraguan, Venezuelan, Mexican, Puerto Rican and Cuban backgrounds, he said. Many team members hadn’t played organized baseball until this season, their experience limited to pick-up games. Minnesota has an established league for players with Latin American heritage, the Liga Latina de Beisbol, Minnesota. Being based on the Twin Cities area, however, makes it a far reach from Willmar.  Joining one of the existing amateur teams in the area would’ve also been difficult for many players given language gaps, Morales said. For that reason, starting a team of Latino players means a lot. “It feels good because the Latin community should feel welcome here and they shouldn’t be afraid of enjoying sport,” he said. “It’s something to do that’s not just work.” Jean Morales prepares to swing for the Willmar Indians during an at-bat on July 2 against the Granite Falls Kilowatts. The Indians went on to defeat the Kilowatts 10-7. Credit: MinnPost photo by Brian Arola Long in the making Willmar, in west-central Minnesota, is about one-quarter Hispanic or Latino, according to U.S. Census data. Kandiyohi County has one of the highest percentages of Hispanic and Latino residents in the state at 14.6%. All players on the team are from the city and surrounding area. Morales said the team name recognizes the Native heritage of him and other players on the squad; it can also reference the West Indies. Minnesota and other states have moved to outlaw American Indian logos and mascots from school districts — in professional baseball, Cleveland removed its Indians name in favor of the Guardians in 2022 — but the name remains common on the state’s amateur baseball scene. At least four more teams use it in Norwood, Shakopee, Sleepy Eye and Waterville. Related: What’s in a nickname? Minnesota’s replacement of American Indian mascots puts state at odds with Trump  Amateur baseball is a summertime staple in Greater Minnesota. The Minnesota Baseball Association (MBA) boasts around 275 member teams competing in three classes: A, B and C. The Willmar Indians are in Class B, playing independently this season against mainly Corn Belt League foes from Bird Island, Marshall, Wabasso and other ball clubs in the region. Next year the team plans to be an official member of the Corn Belt League. Morales came to Willmar in 2016 to play college ball at Ridgewater College. Starting up his own amateur baseball team has been a goal long in the making, said his wife, Raquel Morales. “He’s been talking about it almost since I met him,” she said with a laugh. Having so many new players to organized baseball presented a learning curve for the team in their inaugural season. Mistakes piled up early on, Morales said, including in a loss in an all-Willmar matchup against the Rails, the community’s long-established townball team.  “The thing that’s been killing us is the errors, but we’ve been putting men on base,” he said. Jaciel Cardenas, a pitcher, third baseman and second baseman on the team, enjoys the competition compared with high school ball. A student at Atwater Cosmos Grove City School, he joined the team after hearing that Morales, a family friend, was looking for players. “It’s a good experience playing with older guys,” he said. “It’s harder competition and more fun.” The team has wins to show for their hard work. On July 2, a hot, humid night game at Swansson Orange Field, they came back to win 10-7 against the Granite Falls Kilowatts. Jose Ortiz and Raymond Rodriguez led the way with three hits each, while Morales chipped in with a hit of his own as the designated hitter. The lively atmosphere at the team’s home games stands out compared to what they’ve seen elsewhere, Morales said. Fans honk horns after big plays, Latin music plays over the speakers during pregame and between innings, and a concession vendor known as Luka’s Mini Treats serves up Mexican-style hot dogs and mini pancakes. Remi Becerra grills up Mexican-style hotdogs at a Willmar Indians baseball game on July 2. Credit: MinnPost photo by Brian Arola Raquel, the public address announcer at home games, feels a strong sense of support surrounding the team. “I’ve been very proud of everything they’ve done, all the effort and passion they’ve put into it,” she said. Support even comes from Major League Baseball, Morales said. His nickname is Yankee after his favorite team growing up, but he has good reason to keep a close eye on the San Francisco Giants these days. Heliot Ramos, an outfielder having a strong season for the Giants, is Morales’ cousin and has been checking in to see how the new team is doing. Looking ahead to future seasons, Morales wants to keep building up a community feel around the team. He invites young players to practice with the team, wanting the local Latino communities to have the chance to live the game like he does.  “I’ve made so many friends I call my brothers today through baseball,” he said. “ … Baseball means everything to me.” The post A team of their own: New baseball squad represents Willmar’s Latino community appeared first on MinnPost.