Inaugural Nike RBI Wales kicks off with a little help from Eckstein

CARDIFF, WALES -- For Holly Ireland, the director of Nike RBI Wales, Wednesday morning represented a moment to reflect and rest on her laurels -- even as she was scurrying around the outdoor turf field of Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Nike RBI Wales, with support from MLB and BaseballSoftballUK, hosted the first official Play Ball activation in Wales, inviting around 280 primary schoolchildren to participate in a day of baseball and softball skill games.

“The purpose was to get kids out to experience the different skills involved in the game, and also give them a little bit of game time,” said Ireland. “We are trying to build the sport in Cardiff because there’s a rich tradition of Welsh baseball in Wales. It’s been a while since there’s been some American flavor of baseball and softball -- so we’re trying to build that up and get kids interested in playing. And I think this goes a long way to doing that.”

The kids, coming from multiple primary schools around Cardiff, rotated around the field and participated in baserunning and fielding relay races, throwing/pitching drills, hitting stations and a simulated game station.

The event was designed to introduce the fundamentals of baseball and softball in short spurts, run by volunteers who have been involved with Ireland and the RBI program, while also ensuring the kids experience the competitive aspect in a unique and fun way.

Also in attendance was two-time Cardinals World Series champion David Eckstein, who was involved with all the drills and played alongside the kids.

“As someone who grew up living down the way from San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium, where I got to go down every day, I just want to go to these kids [and point to Eckstein] and go, ‘Look, look!’” said Ireland. “I think they’re just really excited to have people out here who are facilitating the sport. So I think they’re really excited to have David here.”

This is Eckstein's first time visiting Wales. On Wednesday morning prior to the event, he was able to chat with the organizers as well as youth players from Great Britain softball, relishing the chance to hear about their experiences with a game that’s becoming increasingly more prevalent in the British Isles.

“I love seeing kids getting introduced to the game, just see their new style and how they go about it,” said Eckstein. “But it’s been something that’s been very fun. And the thing about our game is that there are ways to go about it to make it fun. That’s what we’re doing with Play Ball.

“Hopefully, [they] just start playing the game a little bit more … but also just becoming a fan. That’s the big thing. Hopefully, they’ll tune into MLB and they’ll be watching the guys play.”

Wednesday’s inspiring level of participation was the result of a labor of love by Ireland, who remembers when the Welsh RBI contingency only had 25 kids at the 2019 London Series. Ireland, who was born in Connecticut and grew up in San Diego (she’s a massive Dave Winfield fan) before moving to Wales as an adult in 2006, grew up loving baseball and playing softball -- now her goal is to transport her passion to the next generation of Welsh children.

“This is a ‘catch your breath' moment for me because a lot of work over the last several years has gone into getting the sport in front of as many kids as possible,” said Ireland, who has been working to bring baseball to Wales since 2016. “I’ve been to many of these schools [in Cardiff]. And if you go there with a bat, a ball and your passion, the kids will follow.

“I love this sport, and I want the kids to love this sport. I think they’re loving it. So this is a day I’ve dreamed about for a while.”

Ireland has grand plans for baseball in Wales. She wants to get league play for youth baseball set up in Cardiff, hoping to establish the sport as a regular presence in the Welsh capital for young kids, partly because she knows the effect the sport had on her growing up. She’s dedicated to passing on that feeling.

“There was a period of time that [my family] lived in a trailer -- but me and my sister, we had a ball and a glove, so that was a good time,” said Ireland. “That’s the whole love of the game I’m trying to bring to these kids. Some of these kids don’t want to play football or rugby, and they don’t know where they fit in. But you know, with baseball, I’ve got a spot for you, a game for you to fit into.”