The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches has been improving the lives of at-risk children
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1546265
Cody, the youngest of two brothers at Youth Ranch Safety Harbor, uses the tips his coach taught him to hit a baseball during practice! A grinning Joey shows off his baseball bat, covered in images of one hundred dollar bills, during a game. out options of sports we could do, and she said softball. So I said softball, and so did Maddy," Lorelei remembered. When Lorelei came to the Ranch, she struggled with social skills. Making friends was tough, and back at home she had been a target of bullying. In her cottage, Lorelei looked up to Maddy as a role model, and seeing her interest in sports gave Lorelei the courage to try. "If they throw the ball to me, I have to catch it and touch home base, and they're out," Lorelei explained. "And my coach is really nice, he helped me get better at catching and pitching!" Lorelei plays catcher during the first three innings of the game. When the fourth inning rolls around, she even gets the chance to pitch! Being on a team is a great way for Lorelei to learn about making friends and cooperating with her teammates. In her cottage, Lorelei is friends with the other young girls, including Christina and Khadijah. Just like most roommates and sisters, the girls don't get along all the time. After playing a season of softball and learning how a team can work together to win a game, Lorelei took those skills back home with her. "We learned how to cooperate with each other, and it helped us win our games," Lorelei said. "And that helped me try to cooperate with everybody in the cottage." The excitement of watching a team work towards a win is the reason our nation loves sports. Overcoming difficulty and setbacks and working together truly encapsulates the American spirit. Lorelei's team used what they had learned during practice to achieve a victory of their own! "I was in position, and the ball came to me. I grabbed it, and it was the last second of the game, and I threw it to Charlie, she caught it, and we got an out and we won!" Lorelei said excitedly. Memories like these last a lifetime. We are so excited to help kids like Lorelei, Maddy, and Joey and Cody find opportunities to play in a healthy way. The skills they learn on the field also help them at home and in life. Thank you for helping our youth learn what it means to just be a kid! T H E R A N C H E R FA L L 2 0 2 6 1 3