Pitching in: Multi-league efforts support rebuild of Ingram Little League fields

When the Guadalupe River surged over its banks in West Kerr County on the morning of July 4, the Ingram Little League fields on Highway 39 were directly in the path of the floodwaters.

The catastrophic flooding completely damaged the fields and fencing, as well as upgraded facilities that were constructed in 2024, including a new concession stand and restrooms.

Ingram Little League is a volunteer-run youth baseball and softball organization that has been a community staple since 1986. The league serves more than 200 local players throughout the county.

Community-led rebuilding fundraisers have popped up throughout the state since the flooding.

The Sienna Blackhawks, a little league team from a suburb of Houston, pitched in to help Ingram Little League’s rebuilding efforts by hosting a lemonade stand in July.

“We heard those guys lost their fields, and they won’t be able to play or practice,” said Sienna Blackhawk James Radke. “They lost everything. We wanted to help.”

The Blackhawks sold sweet treats and lemonade by donation and raised a total of $1,550 for Ingram.

“It’s important for kids to get to play baseball if they want to. You learn how to face adversity, and you learn leadership and how to communicate with other people,” Radke said. “If you like baseball, you can keep playing and have experiences you never thought you could have.”

Sienna Blackhawk players including Jaxson Quisenberry, Zeke Rhudy, Matthew Radke, Cliff Lyons, Mac de la Garza, Luke Riggs and Josh Yanez also contributed their time and effort to the lemonade stand.

The San Antonio Missions Baseball Club hosted a fundraising game against the Springfield Cardinals for Ingram Little League on Aug. 9.

“It means a lot to the players, their families and coaches, but it also means something to the guys in the locker room,” Missions manager Luke Montz said. “They get to help out and step away from win/loss records for a little bit.”

The Missions took to the field wearing baseball jerseys representing Ingram Tom Moore High School, Tivy High School, Center Point High School and Comfort High School, which were all impacted by the flooding.

The jerseys were autographed before being auctioned off after the game. Proceeds benefited the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund.

Sporting an Ingram High School jersey, Missions owner, four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili threw out the first pitch.

“It’s hard when you see your people hurting, when you see the struggle and devastation,” Ginobili said. “When tragedy strikes, it makes you feel proud when the community steps up. We’re here with the Missions to help provide some relief.”

Center Point High School baseball player Pace Davis had the honor of catching Ginobili’s ceremonial pitch.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,” Davis said of his catch. “(The Missions) have been real nice to us. Letting us come out here and throw the ball around, they’ve been super generous. It’s been an amazing experience."

Student-athletes from Center Point High School and Comfort High School were given the opportunity to participate in batting practice with the team before the game.

“It’s pretty cool to have them come out here, and to be able to give them some hours of normalcy,” Missions pitcher Ryan Och said. “To let them come out and be kids again.”

The San Antonio Missions are the Double-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The Missions were established in 1888. The 13-time Texas League champions play home games at the Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, 5757 US 90 in San Antonio.

In support of the San Antonio Missions’ fundraising game for victims of the Texas Hill Country floods, the San Diego Padres and Boston Red Sox also wore baseball jerseys of the area’s impacted high schools during batting practice before a game on Aug. 9 at Petco Park in San Diego.

The jerseys worn by the Padres and Red Sox were auctioned off online this week.

These events are part of a larger collaborative minor and major league effort as the San Antonio Missions enter a partnership with the Round Rock Express, Nolan Ryan Foundation and RS3 Turf to help Ingram rebuild its fields.

The Round Rock Express and Nolan Ryan Foundation joined forces in July to raise funds and donations for those affected by the flooding.

Donations were accepted throughout a six-game series with Albuquerque at Dell Diamond in Round Rock. A 50/50 raffle and an auction featuring 34 game-worn and autographed jerseys also contributed to the funds raised.

Nolan Ryan is a Baseball Hall of Famer who pitched for the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. He co-owns the Round Rock Express team, which is an homage to Ryan’s nickname “The Ryan Express.”

The Round Rock Express is a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers.

“Our goal is to help rebuild the entire complex in Ingram,” said Reid Ryan, Nolan Ryan’s son, co-owner of the Round Rock Express and former President of the Houston Astros. ”These fundraisers are like the first inning in a nine-inning game.”

University of Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle and Longhorn Baseball have also teamed up with the foundation to help rebuild the little league fields.

Last week, The Nolan Ryan Foundation created a social media challenge on X for college fans to tag their favorite school when donating online in a friendly competition to see which sports program can generate the most support.

“Join us in restoring a vital community space that gives Hill Country kids the chance to grow through the great game of baseball,” Schlossnagle said in a video posted on X.

Reid Ryan donated $500 to help kickstart the online efforts, with Longhorn Baseball contributing an initial $100 donation as well.

Fans are encouraged to donate via the College Baseball Fan Challenge in support of Ingram Little League.

The Nolan Ryan Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization formed in 1990 in Alvin to provide resources for youth, education and community development.

In 2016, the foundation relocated to Round Rock. Over the last decade, the Nolan Ryan Foundation has provided $6.3 million in scholarships, donations and community grants.

MORE TEAMS STEP UP TO THE PLATE

Boerne Little League will host “Field of Dreams: An Ingram Little League Rebuild” from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6, at Northrup Park, 37550 Frontage Road in Boerne.

The event will feature two viewers choice screenings of “The Sandlot” or “Rookie of the Year” on the outfield, with all proceeds benefiting the Ingram Little League.

Organizers recommend attendees bring chairs and blankets. Food trucks and other vendors will open before the start of the screenings.

Other activities include wiffle ball, kickball, music, games and raffle giveaways.

General admission is $10, with children age 2 and younger admitted for free.

Family packs that include a total of four tickets can be purchased for $35. VIP movie seating is available for $25.

The Sugar Land Space Cowboys will host a fundraising game against the El Paso Chihuahuas at 2:05 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 21 at Constellation Field, 1 Stadium Drive in Sugar Land.

The Space Cowboys are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros Major League Baseball Club. The Chihuahuas compete in the Pacific Coast League as the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres.

A portion of every ticket and parking sale will go toward helping Ingram Little League rebuild. There will be a table on the concourse for additional donations.

This article was originally published in the Aug. 13, 2025 edition of the Kerrville Daily Times.