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And now for the sports news...

It was match day last week in Agua Fría and for the teams from El Ojochal, Nuevas Esperanzas and Agua Fría the work stopped so everyone could concentrate on the serious business of a baseball tournament.  Our visitors from California have written the match report

On a foggy day, with Volcán Telica looming in the background, the members of the El Ojochal and Agua Fría baseball teams warmed up to begin the first game of the three-game baseball tournament.  From the start, the crowd was enthralled as the two teams swung away in a very offensive game.  Amongst the best of El Ojochal’s hitters was Carlos whose on base percentage was an amazing 666.  Though offenses were blazing, errors on defence were the cause of not a few runs.  In the end, Agua Fría had fewer errors and took the game, 7-5.

The Nuevas Esperanzas team stepped up to bat with high hopes, led by veteran base ballers Arturo and Justo, versus Agua Fría Team #2.  Joining the team from Nuevas Esperanzas, and handicapping them, were a cricket player and two baseball fans.  This was a serious match!  Agua Fría blazed the first pitch in and continued to throw and hit with the same intensity throughout the rest of the game.  Nuevas Esperanzas had difficulty matching this pace, perhaps hampered by their overseas players.  Many fans in the crowd (and even some players on the field) were confused when the game was called because it seemed as though it had only just begun.  A valiant effort indeed, but Nuevas Esperanzas were no match for the muscle and finesse of Agua Fría team #2, score 8-2.

The championship game between El Ojochal and a consolidated Agua Fría was one for the record books.  Though Agua Fría won their previous two games, being good sports, they gave El Ojochal a second chance.  To improve their team, El Ojochal picked up Arturo, the star of the Nuevas Esperanzas team.  From the first pitch the teams battled for the lead, staying neck and neck until the final innings.  Arturo proved to be a wise addition with magnificent play on both sides of the ball.  Frequent pitching changing for both teams could not slow the bats of the determined and focused hitters.  In the final innings, Agua Fría found an answer in their veteran pitcher, Nelson.  This left a window for Agua Fría to pull ahead, which they did, in truly legendary fashion.  With an unstoppable hitting streak in the final inning, Agua Fría won the championship by a nail-bitingly close 12-11.

Time off to play baseball was well deserved.  The members of these two neighbouring communities, El Ojochal and Agua Fría have been working very hard alongside the Nuevas Esperanzas team over the last few months.  Following the construction of family rainwater harvesting tanks in El Ojochal it is now the turn of Agua Fría and work is under way on three 40,000 litre tanks to provide water for the most remote families in the community.  The community themselves provide the manual labour to support the Nuevas Esperanzas building supervisors in the construction.  They have also helped with improvements on the road as access is essential for transporting the construction materials up the hillside.

It is not just rainwater harvesting which is keeping the community busy.  A group of young people have also begun beekeeping.  They are participating in the training courses Erika has been teaching as well as helping her locate the best site in the community for the hives which will be moved into place in December.  It is a new venture for the group and they are very keen to learn and make the most of the opportunity which in time will offer an extra source of income as well as helping protect the environment in which they live.

Nuevas Esperanzas may be able to bring a lot to the communities of El Ojochal and Agua Fría in the areas of rainwater harvesting and beekeeping, but when it comes down to baseball we are happy to accept that they are the experts!  Perhaps with a bit more practice we could steal a win sometime next year...

17/11/10