By Revelle Bailey

A drinking fountain looks different to Emily Friedman now.

“This experience has changed my perspective on everything,” said the second base player for the Philadelphia Force. “I looked at the drinking fountain in the airport and remembered that many of the families I met had no running water.”

Friedman spent a week and a half in Honduras, one of the poorest countries in Central America. The reason: baseball. Working with a college friend, Nate Haugen, who is part of the Peace Corps, Friedman is helping to build a baseball league for sixty or so 8- to 13-year olds in Honduras.

“In the country, there isn’t much in the way of organized sports, because that is a luxury for most families,” said Friedman. “Baseball gives these kids something to look forward to and a sense of being part of something. These kids inspired me to stay involved.”

Haugen, a civil engineer and another Peace Corp member, Beth Piantidosi, came up with the idea to spend their free time to create a baseball league. Friedman decided to just jump in and do what she could to help. A friend of the Force helped her by paying her airfare to the impoverished country and her expenses while she was there.

While Haugen helped to teach the rules of the game, Friedman gave all of her expert pointers to the kids, including how to practice their swings, throws and catches. The 23-year old doesn’t speak Spanish, but that didn’t matter. The language of baseball crosses international boundaries, “Catch this! Watch me!”

One of the children hanging off of Friedman’s leg and holding her hand was 8-year old, Rudy. He was the youngest and the smallest, “sweet and dedicated.” He attended every practice. Even though Rudy didn’t play a position in the final tournament, he did shine as a pinch runner.

“He got on to first base and his eyes just lit up,” shared Friedman. “On the next hit, his little legs started moving, and he was trying to go so fast! The hitter, who was the tallest and the oldest of the group, caught up with him at second base. He was just a few feet behind Rudy as they ran home, but we just kept telling Rudy that he was so fast!”

That’s inspiring.

“A trip like this changes your perspective on everything,” said Friedman. “Positive does exist in the world. Being a part of it made it real to me.”

Friedman’s plan is to stay involved. Her ultimate goal is to help the league be able to sustain itself. Over the last few months, she has collected equipment donations such as gloves, catcher’s equipment and baseballs, but the kids really need a good field to play on. Theirs is full of holes. That will take some monetary donations, more than Friedman has already donated herself.

“We need funds to buy the children uniforms, improve the field and build a backstop,” she shared.

She wants to visit again next year to help with these projects. Maybe while she is there, she can pick up some more Spanish. “Agarre Esto! Mirame!”

Friedman attended the University of Wisconsin before transferring to the University of California at Berkeley. With the Badgers, she was an all-Big Ten selection. She also led Cal to a regional tournament in 2005. Her future plans include finishing up her second season with the Force, coaching college softball and possibly attending medical school. These are things, she says, that can be taken for granted. Things, she says, that she will never take for granted.

“After my trip, I was standing on the softball field during the National Anthem. Thoughts flooded my head. I couldn’t believe how fortunate I am to be a professional female softball player and getting paid for this,” she said.

If you would like to help Friedman and the children’s baseball league with equipment or monetary donations, you can contact her at emilyrfreidman@yahoo.com.