The "Nairobi Field of Dreams"at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) served as the venue for Kenya's national Little League Championship this past April. Over 120 players from ten teams and four counties in the under 12 and under 14 categories played the first Little League games at the field. Players, coaches, families, and fans journeyed from Nakuru, Kiambu, Kajiado and Nairobi with a common purpose: to compete for the national title and aim for a chance at the Europe and Africa Little League regional playoffs in Poland.
The championship was a significant event for Kenya's Little League District 01, being its first substantial national endeavor. It provided a platform for showcasing talent and demonstrating the district's capacity and wide-spread presence of baseball in Kenya.
Nakuru was represented by Alice in Africa with U12 and U14 teams and Shah Lalji contributing an additional U12 team. Kiambu County, the host county, sent U12 and U14 teams from the Kabete Cares baseball programme, while Kajiado County's teams in the U12 and U14 categories came from the Maasailand Baseball Academy. Nairobi fielded U12 and U14 teams from Junior Buffaloes. In total, the championship was graced by the participation of an estimated 126 players.
Nakuru's Alice in Africa came out on top of the tournament and will represent Kenya in Poland for the Regional Little League qualifiers in Europe this July.
The 2023 Kenya Little League National Championship held at Nairobi's "Field of Dreams" was not just a tournament; it was a testament to the dreams and ambitions of young people across Kenya. For many, it was their first time stepping onto a baseball field, a moment of initiation into the sport they love. The event underscored a profound realization - they didn't need to journey far and wide, or board a plane to pursue their dreams. The opportunity was right there, waiting to be seized, in their own backyard. Their dreams of playing baseball and reaching for the stars were closer to home than they ever imagined.