>> IT STARTS WITH LEARNING THE BASICS.

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THE GAME.

>> IT'S KIND OF DIFFICULT, BUT ONCE YOU DO IT A LOT, YOU GET THE HANG OF IT.

>> ATHLETIC SKILL COMES WITH DEDICATION AND PRACTICE.

>> KEEP TRYING, NEVER GIVE UP.

ALWAYS PLAY HARD.

>> AN ACQUIRED DISCIPLINE FOR LIFE ITSELF.

>> THEY'RE REALLY LEARNING SKILLS THAT TRANSLATE INTO THE CLASSROOM AND INTO THE WORKPLACE.

>> AND ALONG WITH IT, SELF-CONFIDENCE.

>> TRY TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES AND GIVE THEM SUCCESS, BECAUSE SUCCESS IS THE GREATEST TONIC FOR INSECURITY.

>> THEY GET THAT ENERGY, SAYING I CAN TAKE ON ANYTHING.

>> OVER TIME, THE TALENT BLOSSOMS.

>> THEY TELL ME WHAT TO DO AND I'M LIKE GETTING BETTER AT IT.

BETTER AND BETTER.

>> FROM T-BALL TO MIDDLE TEENS.

THIS IS HOW KIDS HAVE LEARNED TO PLAY IN SOME OF MILWAUKEE'S MORE CHALLENGING NEIGHBORHOODS.

>> EVERYTHING THAT COMES WITH POVERTY, NO FOOD AT THE HOUSE, POOR LIVING CONDITIONS.

>> IT'S MORE THAN A PASTIME.

>> BASEBALL IS A THINKING GAME, YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON EACH TIME YOU'RE ON THE FIELD.

>> IT'S A RITE OF PASSAGE.

>> WE TELL OUR KIDS FROM FOUR ALL THE WAY INCOMPETENT, THIS IS -- UP, THIS IS A LIFELONG JOURNEY.

>> A VALUE SYSTEM.

>> WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED OWNED THE KID AS A WHOLE.

>> TWO ICONIC YOUTH INITIATIVES HAVE LED THE WAY.

BECKUM STAPLETON LITTLE LEGAL DATES BACK TO 1975.

MR. MANTILLA LA WAS A MEMBER OF THE 1957 WORLD SERIES CHAMPION MILWAUKEE BRAVES.

HIS 11-YEAR MAJOR LEAGUE CAREER INCLUDED SEASONS ON A NUMBER OF TEAMS.

>> AND THEN IN THE BIG LEAGUES TOO.

I REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS PLAYING IN LITTLE LEAGUE.

>> JAMES BECKUM DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF IN THE MIDDLE 1950'S AS A PLAYER FOR THE EAST ST. LOUIS GIANTS OF THE HISTORIC NEGRO LEAGUES.

>> IF YOU GO OUT THERE TO WIN AT ANY COST, THEN YOU'RE NOT A GOOD BASEBALL PLAYER.

>> OVER THE YEARS, BOTH MEN HAVE ENDEARED THEMSELVES IN THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE LESSONS OF THEIR PROGRAMS.

AND BY NURTURING "MILWAUKEE'S DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH."

CLEAR DEALER >> HELLO.

I'M MARK SIEGRIST.

IN THEIR TIME, FELIX MANTILLA AND JAMES BECKUM PLAYED HARD BALL WITH GRIT AND PASSION.

BUT WHEN TALKING ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF ATHLETIC DISCIPLINE FOR CHILDREN, THEIR DEMEANOR IS NURTURING AND PATIENT.

BOTH MEN REGARD DIAMONDS LIKE THIS ONE AS A CLASSROOM FOR LIFE.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO TEACH THEM.

YOU DON'T EVEN START THROWING THE BALL THIS WAY TO A KID WHO NEVER CAUGHT.

YOU HAVE TO THROW IT THIS WAY.

IN OTHER WORDS, YOU'LL REALLY THROWING THE BALL INTO THE GLOVE.

HE'S NOT REALLY CATCHING IT, BUT IT'S GOING INTO THE GLOVE, HE SEE IT IN THERE, THAT GIVES HIM AN IDEA, HE CAUGHT THAT BALL.

>> FROM KNOWING NOTHING TO NOW I KNOW HOW LIKE HOW DO YOU SAY, HOW TO MOVE AROUND, TO STEAL A BASE.

OR HOW TO HOLD A BAT TO HIT A BALL, IT'S A SLOW PROCESS.

>> THEIRON YOUTH HAS ROOTS IN TWO DIFFERENT REGIONS.

FOR JAMES BECKUM, IT WAS THE AMERICAN SOUTH.

FELIX MANTILLA WAS RAISED IN PUERTO RICO.

>> FROM THERE, I LEARNED, YOU HAVE TO HUSTLE AT ALL TIMES.

>> NOW LIVING IN THEIR EIGHTH DECADE, THEY STILL HAVE BASEBALL IN THEIR BONES.

ESPECIALLY WHEN REMINISCING ABOUT GROWING UP IN THE GAME.

>> WHEN I WENT ON THIS TEAM TO PLAY, WE PRACTICED HARD.

I WAS A SHORTSTOP.

I WAS A SHORTSTOP.

IF YOU MISSED THE BALL, YOU HAD TO RUN IT DOWN AND COME BACK.

AS SOON AS YOU GOT BACK, YOU HIT ANOTHER ONE, AND THEN HE WOULD TELL YOU, WHEN YOU LEARN TO STOP THAT BALL, YOU WILL HAVE TO RUN AND GET IT.

>> WHAT DID THE GAME TEACH YOU, BEYOND DISCIPLINE?

>> DISCIPLINE, HOW TO BE ON TIME, HOW TO GET TOGETHER WITH YOUR OWN TEAMMATES.

DON'T FIGHT.

EVERYBODY WORK TOGETHER.

AND THEN WHAT YOU LEARN THERE, WHEN I PLAY TRIPLE-A BALL OR DOUBLE-A BALL PROFESSIONAL AND THEN IN THE BIG LEAGUES TOO, THAT I REMEMBER ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME WHEN I WAS PLAYING IN LITTLE LEAGUE.

>> >> THAT'S WHY A YOUNG PERSON'S OPENNESS TO DIRECTION IS SO IMPORTANT.

ONE OF THE VALUES INSTILLED IN THE BECKUM AND MANTILLA LITTLE LEAGUES CULTURE.

IT'S A BUILDING BLOCK FOR LIFELONG LEARNING.

WHETHER ON THE FIELD, IN THE CLASSROOM, OR PURSUING A CAREER.

>> YOU ALSO HAVE TO LEARN TO RESPECT OF THE COACHES AND DO WHAT HE ASKS YOU TO DO.

TRY TO DO WHAT HE ASKS YOU TO DO.

NOT GO OUT THERE AND HALF DO IT.

GET A LITTLE COCKY, YOU KNOW.

ALL THIS KIND OF STUFF.

THAT'S NOT THE GAME.

>> WHEN YOU'RE A ROOKIE IN THE BIG LEAGUES, YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOME KIND OF PROBLEM.

YOU THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU KNOW IT ALL, BUT YOU DON'T.

THAT'S WHY YOU NEED COACHES TO TELL YOU, NO, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GO THIS WAY.

YOU DON'T GO THAT WAY.

AND IF YOU WANT TO LISTEN, YOU PROGRESS.

IF YOU DON'T, YOU FAIL.

>> THEIR WISDOM IS IN THE FABRIC OF THE LITTLE LEAGUE PROGRAMS THAT BEAR THEIR NAMES.

FOR COACHES, ADMINISTRATORS, AND KIDS, IT GOES WITH THE UNIFORM.

>> YES, I THINK, THAT'S THE COMMON BOND BETWEEN THE TWO OF THEM, THEY BOTH LOVE CHILDREN, THE YOUTH, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN BASEBALL, THAT'S EVEN BETTER.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP THEM OUT.

>> THEY BOTH ARE TERRIFIC HUMAN BEINGS.

AND THEY'VE GIVEN SO MUCH TO THE KIDS.

THAT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A WAY TO MAYBE MEASURE THE IMPACT THAT THESE LEAGUES HAVE HAD ON THE KIDS FROM THE CITY.

>> THEY'VE COME TO REPRESENT THE VALUES OF YOUTH BASEBALL IN MILWAUKEE.

>> WHAT IS IT LIKE HAVING A LEAGUE NAMED IN YOUR HONOR?

>> JAMES BECKUM AND FELIX MANTILLA.

>> THE PROMISE OF SPRING ECHOES FROM A BUILDING NEAR 9th AND BROWN.

IT'S MID-FEBRUARY, WELL BEFORE THE START OF ANOTHER LITTLE LEAGUE SEASON IN THE CITY.

AND ALREADY, KIDS ARE KEEPING THEIR EYES ON THE BALM.

-- ON THE BALL.

14-YEAR-OLD DAMION FAYNE IS ONE OF THOSE KIDS.

WHEN DAMION TAKES HIS TURN IN THE BATTING CAGE, YOU NOTICE, HE HAS POTENTIAL.

HE ALSO LOVES THE GAME.

AND RESPECTS THE BECKUM-STAPLETON LEAGUE TRADITION.

>> I LIKE PLAYING FOR THIS TEAM.

>> MAKE SURE YOU HIT IT HARD.

>> COACH JAMES HANKS IS CONTROLS AT HAND.

HELPING COORDINATE THE PRESEASON WORKOUT.

AN EARLY SESSION FOR SOME OF THE OLDER KIDS IN THE PROGRAM.

>> AND LIKE, THESE GUYS ARE 14, 15 YEARS OLD.

THEY NEED TO BE TREATED LIKE MEN A LITTLE BIT.

THERE'S A WAY TO CUT IT OFF AND THEY FEEL FREE.

>> IT'S A CHANCE TO BOND.

TO ANTICIPATE AND PREPARE.

BY LOOSENING UP.

MAKING SOME CONTACT.

REVIEWING THE BASICS.

AND SETTING GOALS.

>> MR. SWKRAO: OF EVER.

>> >> SO YOUR GOAL IS TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO ACHIEVE THAT, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN, WHAT SURROAD MAP TO GET THERE?

>> YOU DO THE RIGHT THING AND NOT, LIKE, GET A BAD RECORD, HAVE A GOOD RECORD, A CLEAN RECORD.

IT'S LIKE HAVE A PATH.

>> WE WISH YOU WELL.

YOU'RE FUN TO WATCH.

YOU'RE A NATURAL.

>> COACH HANKS SAYS THE RIGHT DEMEANOR OF A YOUNG BALL PLAYER IS ESSENTIAL.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING.

TALENT SCOUTS OFTEN BLEND IN WITH THE CROWD.

>> HERE IN THE CITY, HE CAN BE ANYBODY, IN YOUR ATTITUDE, ON HOW YOU CARRY YOURSELF, MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

>> HOW ARE YOU GOING TO LOOK, DO YOU WANT TO BE UP HERE?

>> GLENN MATHEWS KNOWS THE BECKUM-STAPLETON PROGRAM WELL.

HE PLAYED IN THE LEAGUE AS A KID.

IS A LONGTIME COACH.

AND SERVES AS THE PROGRAM'S ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

>> YOU JUST PRACTICE ALL THE TIME.

>> HOW DO YOU COACH THEM AS INDIVIDUALS AS OPPOSED TO JUST A BLANKET APPROACH?

>> IT'S A BORDERLINE, YOU HAVE TO WORK ON BOTH.

YOU HAVE TO COACH THEM AS A TEAM, BUT AGAIN, KNOWING THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSS OF EACH ONE OF THE PLAYERS IS WHERE YOU START DOING YOUR COACHING.

>> SO FIRST YOU HAVE TO OBSERVE?

>> YES.

>> YOU HAVE TO LEARN WHAT THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSS ARE.

>> BECAUSE SOME OF THEM WILL THINK THEIR STRENGTH IS HERE, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY A WEAKNESS, SO I AM A POWER PITCHER.

NO, YOU'RE MORE OF A FINESSE PITCHER.

LET'S WORK ON THAT AND GET THAT GOING.

MASTER THAT AND THEN WE CAN START WORKING ON POWER.

>> SOMETIMES YOU CHALLENGE, SOMETIMES YOU NURTURE?

>> CORRECT.

>> 13-YEAR-OLD D.J.

BROWN STARTED PLAYING BECKUM BALL AT THE AGE OF NINE.

THE EXPERIENCE HAS TAUGHT HIM A LOT ABOUT THE GAME, LIFE, AND HIS OWN POTENTIAL.

>> OVER THE YEARS, HOW HAVE COACHES HELPED HIM WITH YOUR HITTING TECHNIQUE?

>> TAUGHT ME TO KEEP MY ELBOW UP, KEEP MY EYE ON THE BALL.

>> WHAT ELSE IS BASEBALL TEACHING YOU ABOUT LIFE?

>> DON'T GET AN ATTITUDE OVER AN UMPIRE MAKING A BAD CALL.

IF HE CALLS A BAD CALL, DON'T GET ANGRY OVER IT.

DO WHATEVER THEY TELL YOU TO.

>> MOVE ON?

>> YES.

>> D.J.

SAYS BASEBALL HAS HELPED HIM APPRECIATE SOMETHING ELSE.

THE APPLIED SKILLS OF BOTH AN ATHLETE AND STUDENT.

ON A COLD FEBRUARY AFTERNOON, A GROUP OF TALENTED KIDS IS PREPARING FOR A CHANGE OF SEASON.

THE BECKUM-STAPLETON COACHING STAFF HAS THEM FOCUSED ON THE TASK AT HAND, THE UP COMING CHALLENGES OF THE SUMMER AND BEYOND.

>> YOU'RE PREPARING THE YOUNG MEN NOT JUST FOR BASEBALL BUT FOR LIFE?

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S MAINLY WHAT I'M TRYING TO DO.

>> PRESEASON EXCITEMENT IS ALSO BUILDING IN A SOUTH SIDE GYM NEAR 22nd AND SCOTT.

OVER THE YEARS, JOURNEY HOUSE HAS STOOD AS A NEIGHBORHOOD ANCHOR FOR FAMILY EDUCATION AND YOUTH ATHLETICS.

JOURNEY HOUSE IS ALSO THE NEW ADMINISTRATIVE ARM OF FELIX MANTILLA LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL.

DURING THIS WINTER WORKOUT, YOUNGER PLAYERS ARE IN CONSTANT MOTION.

>> GET YOUR HAND OUT.

>> THE INSTRUCTION IS HIGHLY ORGANIZED.

MOVING FROM STATION TO STATION.

WITH AN EMPHASIS ON FUNDAMENTALS.

TECHNIQUE.

AND BUILDING SKILLS.

>> HAVE THE KIDS ACTIVE AND MOVING, WORKS ON THEIR MOTOR SKILLS, WORKS ON THEIR ATTENTION SPAN, KEEPS THEM FOCUSED.

>> CHARLES BROWN IS THE JOURNEY HOUSE YOUTH PROGRAM DIRECTOR.

HE IS A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE MANTILLA LITTLE LEAGUE TRADITION -- GOOD COPING AND THE -- GOOD COACHING AND THE HOLISTIC BENEFITS TO KIDS.

>> REALLY, THIS IS ABOUT EDUCATION, LIFE SKILLS.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, NUTRITION AND PARENT ENGAGEMENT.

THOSE KIND OF SKILLS THAT GO BEYOND THE BASEBALL FIELD.

AND THEN, HOW DO WE BEHAVE ON THE FIELD AND OFF THE FIELD, IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT, BEHAVIOR, THAT GOES FOR OUR KIDS, OUR COACHES, AND OUR PARENTS.

A TROPHY REPRESENTS THE WINNING ON THE FIELD, BUT THE REAL WINNING IS OFF THE FIELD IN THE CLASSROOM AND THE WORKPLACE AND THE COMMUNITY.

THAT'S WHERE THE REAL WINNING IS.

>> WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE TODAY?

>> WE'RE PRACTICING BATTING AND WE'RE GROUNDING THE BALL.

>> WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> WE'RE PRACTICING SO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THE GAME AND WE'RE READY.

>> 10-YEAR-OLD LISETTE CONTRERAS HAS THAT KIND OF AMBITION.

SHE'S A VETERAN OF THE FELIX MANTILLA LITTLE LEAGUE WITH A COMPETITIVE SPIRIT FOR LIFE IN GENERAL.

>> WHAT KIND OF DREAMS DO YOU HAVE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WITH YOU GROW UP?

>> I ACTUALLY WANT TO BE A VETERINARIAN, BUT I STILL WANT TO PLAY A LOT OF BASEBALL.

>> YOU DO.

YOU DO.

>> WELL, YOU HAVE TO GET STRAIGHT A'S AND REALLY PAY ATTENTION IN SCIENCE.

>> YOU MUST BE PRETTY TIRED.

YOU WERE DOING A LOT OF STUFF.

>> YEAH.

>> WHAT WAS THE HARDEST THING TO LEARN TODAY?

>> THE PART WHEN WE HAD TO GRAB THE BALL AND BRING IT UP TO OUR HIP AND RELEASE IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE TO POINT OUR ELBOWS TO THE PLAYER WE'RE GOING TO THROW IT TO.

>> 12-YEAR-OLD SERGIO DIAZ HAS BEEN PRACTICING HIS FOOTWORK TOO.

HANDLING THE BAG AT FIRST BASE TAKES SOME DOING.

>> YOU HAVE TO DO YOUR STANCE, LIKE AIM TOWARDS THE BALL.

>> A LOT OF GOOD FOOTWORK, COORDINATION, IT TAKES PRACTICE.

>> LIKE A LOT OF KIDS, SERGIO WOULD LOVE TO ONE DAY PLAY IN THE BIG SHOW.

BUT HE KNOWS IT DOESN'T COME EASILY.

>> YOU'VE GOT A HIGH GOAL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S GOING TO TAKE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THAT?

>> KEEP TRYING, NEVER GIVE UP.

ALWAYS, LIKE, ALWAYS PLAY HARD.

>> 9-YEAR-OLD ALAN DURAN HAS PLAYED A FEW YEARS IN THE FELIX MANTILLA LEAGUE HIMSELF.

AND HE'S COME TO APPRECIATE THE VALUE OF STAYING MENTALLY FOCUSED.

>> SO REACTION.

YOU HAVE TO REACT.

>> YES, VERY QUICKLY, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A FAST RUNNER AND YOU'RE PLAYING THE OUTFIELD AND LIKE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK THROW, LIKE IF THEY'RE GOING TO SECOND BASE, YOU HAVE TO MAKE A QUICK THROW.

YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE YOUR TIME BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BEAT YOU AT SECOND BASE.

>> ITS SOCIAL IMPACT OF URBAN LITTLE LEAGUE IN MILWAUKEE IS PROFOUND.

IT'S FAR MORE THAN A SPORT.

WHETHER BECKUM BALL ON THE NORTH OR THE MANTILLA TRADITION TO THE SOUTH, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FORMATION OF YOUNG LIVES FOR THE FUTURE.

>> BASEBALL IS A GAME OF RULES AND DIMENSIONS.

FROM THE WAY IT'S PLAYED.

TO THE DIAMONDS IT'S PLAYED ON.

THE PARAMETERS.

PHYSICAL SKILL, EVEN WINS AND LOSSES, IT'S REALLY ABOUT THE JOURNEY.

>> WINNING IS IMPORTANT, BUT LEARNING HOW TO PLAY IT IS IMPORTANT.

BUT IT'S NOT THE TOP.

LEARNING HOW TO PLAY THE GAME IS IMPORTANT.

HOW TO TAKE ORDERS, THAT'S IMPORTANT.

FROM YOUR MANAGER, COACH.

>> THE LEARNING PROCESS?

THE JOURNEY?

>> SURE.

YOU HAVE TO START FROM POINT A TO GET TO -- >> TO GET TO POINT B.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> THESE KIDS FROM A TOUGHER BACKGROUND.

>> MILWAUKEE BROADCAST EXECUTIVE JOHN TORRES SERVED AS A LONGTIME COACH IN THE FELIX MANTILLA LITTLE LEAGUE.

HE KNEW HIS PLAYERS WELL.

THEIR BACKGROUNDS, NEEDS, AND ATTACHMENT TO THE PROGRAM.

>> WELL, SPORTS AND BASEBALL, IT'S A MATTER OF CONFIDENCE.

BLOCKING OUT THE NEGATIVES.

AND IN A TEAM STRUCTURE, YOU'RE WORKING FOR THE SAME GOAL.

IT GIVES THEM SOCIAL SKILLS.

THEY'RE MEETING KIDS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

THEY'RE LEARNING HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS.

THEY FIND OUT ABOUT THEMSELVES, VICTORY, DEFEAT, NEVER GIVING UP.

THEY LEARN IF YOU LOSE, YOU DON'T GIVE UP, WE COME BACK TOMORROW, WE PRACTICE AGAIN AND WE GO OUT THERE AGAIN.

YOU GO TO BAT, YOU MacAN OUT, THAT'S OK. COME BACK THE NEXT TIME.

>> WHEN THE KID CAME TO THIRD BASE, HE WANTED TO GO HOME, HE WANTED TO GO HOME.

>> IT'S A TENDER STORY THAT STILL STICKS IN THE MIND OF EMILIO LOPEZ.

ESPECIALLY WHEN SHARING MEMORIES OF HIS NEARLY 30 YEARS IN LEADERSHIP WITH THE FELIX MANTILLA PROGRAM.

THE FIRST PURCHASE OF NEW UNIFORMS, TOURNAMENT PLAY.

AND IMPROVEMENTS TO BARAN PARK STAND OUT.

BUT NOT LIKE THE DAY AN EXCITED YOUNG PLAYER WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TRIED TO MAKE IT HOME.

>> THE COACH GRABBED HEM.

THE MANAGER FROM THE OTHER TEAM WAS SAYING, YOU CAN'T DO THAT, IT'S AGAINST THE RULES.

ONCE YOU PUT YOUR HANDS ON A RUNNER, THAT RUNNER IS OUT AND HE WAS REALLY WAS, YOU KNOW, FELT HE HAD A STRONG POINT AND I PULLED HIM OVER TO THE SIDE AND I SAID, YOU KNOW THAT'S ONE OF THE KIDS WITH A DISABILITY IN OUR LEAGUE?

HE DIDN'T NOTICE THAT.

THE ONLY WAY TO STOP HIM WAS YOU HAD TO GRAB HIM.

AND HE GOES, OH, THAT'S THE ONE WE TALKED ABOUT IN OUR MEETING?

YES.

HE SAID, EMILIO, I'M SORRY.

NO MORE PROBLEMS.

>> BUT THAT'S THE NURTURING SIDE OF YOUR LEAGUE.

>> IT WAS A PROFOUND MOMENT FOR KIDS, COACHES AND PARENTS ALIKE.

>> SO WHAT LESSONS DO YOU HOPE THE KIDS ARE GAINING NOW THROUGH THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THE BECKUM-STAPLETON LEAGUE?

>> IF YOU CAN LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BASEBALL, YOU'LL LEARN ABOUT LIFE.

CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, LOYALTY.

THESE THINGS THAT LITTLE LEAGUE TEACHES.

>> NOT ALL FUNDAMENTALS ARE LEARNED ON THE FIELD.

AT LEAST ONE IS FOUND ON THE BOOK SHELF.

LITERACY.

JOURNEY HOUSE COMMUNITY-BASED SPONSOR FOR FELIX MANTILLA LITTLE LEAGUE SEES A CONNECTION.

DR. MICHELE BRIA IS THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

>> SOMETIMES THROUGH SPORTS, IT CAN REALLY IGNITE A FIRE IN A YOUNG PERSON TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE CLASSROOM AND BE MORE ACADEMICALLY FOCUSED.

>> SO AMONG THE GROUNDS RULES FOR JOURNEY HOUSE BALL PLAYERS -- HAVE AN ACTIVE MILWAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD.

READ AT LEAST ONE BOOK AND GIVE A RELATED BOOK REPORT PER SEASON.

>> IF YOU CAN'T READ AND UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, YOU'RE GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND.

AND WE WANT OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE AS PREPARED AS POSSIBLE FOR WHAT THE REAL WORLD EXPERIENCE IS.

>> YOU TOLD ME YOU DO A LOT OF READING.

WHAT KIND OF STORIES DO YOU LIKE TO READ?

>> I LIKE TO READ THE "WHO WAS" SERIES OF BOOKS.

LIKE IF YOU PICK UP A BOOK ABOUT LET'S SAY, JACKIE ROBINSON, IT TELLS YOU THE LIFE OF JACKIE ROBINSON AND FAMOUS PEOPLE LIKE MUHAMMAD ALI OR OTHER PEOPLE.

>> ACADEMIC PROFICIENCY, GOALS, SOCIAL SKILLS, AND SELF-DISCIPLINE.

A COMMUNITY CENTER'S EFFORT TO PREPARE THE NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS FOR SOMETHING GREATER.

WITH LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL SERVING AS THE GATEWAY.

>> IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE GAME.

WE'RE TEACHING THEM HOW TO SURVIVE.

>> EUGENE MANZANET IS A FELIX MANTILLA LEAGUE ORGANIZER AND JOURNEY HOUSE BOARD PRESIDENT.

>> WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

I MEAN, IT REALLY IS -- THERE IS NO CHOICE.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A TIME, THEY CAN'T WASTE ANY MORE TIME IN GETTING READY TO BE COMPETITIVE IN A NEW ECONOMY THAT, YOU KNOW WHAT, THEY NEED THE TOOLS.

THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT EDUCATION, WITHOUT IT, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE STRUGGLES.

WE DON'T WANT THESE KIDS IT STRUGGLE.

THE NEXT GENERATION NEEDS TO BE PREPARED TO COMPETE.

>> GREATER CHALLENGES DO LIE BEYOND THE DIMENSIONS OF THE FIELD.

OFTEN AN UNCHARTERED COURSE THROUGH A YOUNG PERSON'S FUTURE.

IN THE CLASSROOM, WORKPLACE, AND EVERYDAY LIFE.

THAT'S WHY THE SKILLS LEARNED ON DIAMONDS LIKE THIS ONE ARE IMPORTANT.

NOT ONLY FOR THE JOURNEY, BUT FOR BETTER CONTROL OF ONE'S DESTINY ITSELF.

>> YOU WEREN'T PLAYING FOR THE MONEY, YOU WERE PLAYING FOR THE EXCITEMENT OF THE GAME.

>> TO ENJOY IT.

>> TWO OLD FRIENDS REMINISCE ABOUT THEIR SHARED PASSION -- BASEBALL.

>> WE DID IT THE HARD WAY.

BECAUSE IT WAS HOT IN, YOU KNOW, MY HOMETOWN, YOU KNOW, AT NIGHT, AND THESE GUYS RUN YOU HALF TO DEATH.

BUT WE ENJOYED IT.

>> THEY TALK ABOUT THE MENTAL ASPECTS OF THE GAME.

>> YOU'VE GOT TO TEACH HIM WHAT -- WHEN YOU MAKE A MISTAKE, WHAT DO YOU DO.

IF YOU BOOT THE BALL, YOU DON'T JUST SIT THERE AND LOOK AT IT.

YOU HAVE TO GET IT UP.

YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE NEXT BASE.

>> AND THE LIFE LESSONS IT TAUGHT THEM.

>> WHEN THEY SAY 9:00 A.M.

PRACTICE, IT WAS 9:00 A.M.

PRACTICE.

IT WASN'T NO, 9:15 A.M. OR 10:00 A.M. >> JAMES BECKUM AND FELIX MANTILLA ARE CRAFTSMEN.

MOLDING A MUCH YOUNGER GENERATION IN THE FINE ART OF AN AMERICAN PASTIME.

>> WINNING IS GOOD, BUT IT'S NOT EVERYTHING.

YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO LOVE THE GAME, HOW TO PLAY, AND GIVE IT RESEPCT.

IF YOU TRY TO WIN AT ANY COST, THEN YOU'RE NOT A GOOD BALL PLAYER.

>> IT'S A NURTURING PROCESS.

>> IT'S A TOUGH GAME TO LEARN WHEN YOU'RE AN 8, 9, 10-YEAR-OLD OR YOUNGER.

IT'S PRETTY TOUGH.

OR YOUNGER THAN THAT.

BUT IF YOU HAVE THE COACHES, YOU KNOW, AND THE COACHES HAVE THE TIME TO WORK WITH DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS, IT STILL IS HARD FOR THE KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THE GAME AT THE BEGINNING, BUT THE MORE THAT HE WORKS WITH THE COACHES AND THE COACHES WORK WITH THIS PARTICULAR GUY, YOU KEEP ON LEARNING AND LEARNING AND LEARNING.

>> THEY STILL REMEMBER HOW IT FELT.

COMPETING ON THE FIELD AS YOUNGER MEN.

>> MAKING THE PLAYS WITH GREAT SPEED, STYLE AND GRACE.

NOW THEY TAKE PLEASURE IN HELPING KIDS ACQUIRE SKILLS OF THEIR OWN, WATCHING THEM EXCEL ON THE FIELD, GAINING CONFIDENCE, MATURITY, DISCIPLINE, A CURIOSITY FOR THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

>> WHEN THE KID COMES IN THERE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING AND IN TIME YOU SEE HIM GROW, MAKE SOME PLAYS AND SOME OF THE PLAYS THE KID MAKE IN LITTLE LEAGUE A PROVE CAN'T MAKE NO BETTER.

>> WITH MY LEAGUE, I HOPE SOME KIDS, YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY GET OLDER, SAY, WELL, MR. MANTILLA, YOU KNOW, I TALK TO HIM, HE TOLD ME TO DO THIS, DO THAT, I ENJOY THAT, I ENJOY THAT.

>> THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF BECKUM AND MANTILLA LITTLE LEAGUES BASEBALL IS IMMEASURABLE.

THOUSANDS OF MILWAUKEE KIDS HAVE PARTICIPATED SINCE THE FOUNDING OF BOTH PROGRAMS.

AN IMPRESSIVE ESTIMATE IN A SPORT WHERE STATISTICS OFTEN TELL THE STORY.

THE KIND OF NUMBERS THAT A COUPLE OF RETIRED PRO BALL PLAYERS CAN TAKE TO HEART.

ESPECIALLY WHEN CONSIDERING THE POTENTIAL FOR "MILWAUKEE'S DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH."