Bolden Little League celebrates opening day in Las Vegas — PHOTOS
Rangers' Jay Jay Nichols, 12, celebrates after scoring a run against the Bulldogs during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Members of the Blue Jays put their hats back on after the national anthem during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Las Vegas police Sgt. Joshua Stark throws the first pitch during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Players walk out onto the field during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Assemblyman William McCurdy II speaks during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Kameron Young, 11, reads a poem during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Dale Johnson, coach of the Angels, right, talks with his players during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Members of the Red Sox team leave the field before the start of a game on the opening day for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Bulldogs' Marcel Elzy, 12, runs to first base while playing against the Rangers during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Bulldogs' Nathan Pineda, 9, runs to first base while playing against the Rangers during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Bulldogs' Karen Guardado, 12, runs to first base while playing against the Rangers during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Bulldogs' Nathan Pineda, 9, heads to home plate to score a run against the Rangers during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Members of the Bulldogs team watch the action during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Bulldogs pitcher Marcel Elzy, 12, reacts after a throw to the Rangers during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Bulldogs pitcher Marcel Elzy, 12, throws to the Rangers during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Rangers' Jay Jay Nichols, 12, runs to third base against the Bulldogs during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Rangers' Jay Jay Nichols, 12, scores a run against the Bulldogs during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Royals' Natalia Zuniga heads for home plate to score against the Rockies during the opening day celebration for the third season of Bolden Little League at Doolittle Field in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 13, 2019. The league is sponsored by the Metropolitan Police Department, along with Bolden Area Command, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, among others. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @csstevensphoto
Parents, kids, sponsors and community officials gathered Saturday at a baseball field in the Historic Westside to celebrate opening day for Bolden Little League.
The Bolden Little League was created in 2017 as a way to engage vulnerable youth and to build a better relationship with the Historic Westside community not far from downtown Las Vegas, organizers said in a news release.
On Saturday, league sponsors, the Metropolitan Police Department and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, hosted a free celebration with food, games, giveaways, and a vendor fair at Doolittle Field, 1950 North J St., where the league plays its games.
Metro officials involved in the program have said that reaching kids at this age can have a lasting impact.
“This is the age we want to reach them to show them, police aren’t the bad guys, police are your friends,” Metro homicide Capt. Robert Plummer, former captain of the Bolden Area Command said in a Review-Journal interview last year.
The league has grown from 70 kids, ranging in age from 4 to 11, during its first year to 160 in 2018, and the number is expected to increase this year, organizers said.
The free program is part of a yearlong mentorship program touching on issues such as bullying, the importance of financial stability, leadership and health.
Over the league’s first two years, Metro raised funds to cover the costs for players’ participation. This year, Anthem is a sponsor and is footing the bill for uniforms, equipment, participation and other costs.
Among those set to attend Saturday were Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield President Craig Smith, U.S. Sen Catherine Cortez Masto, Las Vegas Councilman Cedric Crear and Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom.
