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One year later, baseball in Zambia continues

WILMORE, KY—Last year, Greg Steinsdoerfer ’07 spent his summer in Zambia with an Asbury College Initiative Grant.

He worked with World Vision and the area development program on several projects, including opening the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Center (PMTC). This program helps mothers stop passing HIV/AIDS on to their children.

While he was there, Steinsdoerfer introduced baseball to the children in Kakolo, a village without running water or electricity.

The new pastime was a hit with the children, many of whom were among the 500,000 children in Zambia orphaned by AIDS.

“They liked it so much that Saturday they played until we couldn’t see anymore,” he said of the first game. “They begged to play again on Sunday. On Sunday we had full teams to play. We even stole most of the fans away from the big soccer game going on! The final score to the first-ever baseball game in the history of Kakolo was 31-16. And it will certainly not the last game.”

It was not the last game.

ESPN sports writer, Jim Caple wrote about Steinsdoerfer’s efforts in his online column last summer.

Caple wrote, “There’s just one small problem. They need another ball. In other words, I need to get some baseballs to a remote Zambian village. They may be smaller than soccer balls, but they are still plenty big enough for the entire world to grip.”

That’s exactly what happened. Upon Caple’s pledge, Steinsdoerfer received requests from people asking to help by sending baseballs and equipment. Major League Baseball has also joined in the efforts by sending 48 baseballs. Asbury College also stepped up to the plate—donating baseball uniforms for the fledgling team.

The uniforms traveled to Zambia in January with a group from Steinsdoerfer’s high school, Wheaton Academy. This summer, another group returned and captured the Zambia “Eagle” team on camera.

While Steinsdoerfer’s influence in Zambia has carried on a year after his departure, 15 Asbury College students are making their impact right now on 11 different nations through the Asbury Initiative Grant program for servant leadership. Each student has been given up to $10,000 to complete their internship providing volunteer service in the areas of international community, social and economic development in developing countries.

Asbury College student brings baseball to Africa

Released: July 20, 2007

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