SPORTS

In The Dominican Republic, Baseball Is Life

By Fox News
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CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: Members of the Latin Baseball Academy sit in a make-shift dugout before practice on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (2003 Getty Images)

CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 19: Members of the Latin Baseball Academy cross over railroad tracks on their two mile walk to the practice field on August 19, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (2003 Getty Images)

CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: Wilman Salmiento puts on tattered batting gloves during practice on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (2003 Getty Images)

CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 18: Richayo, 8, plays stickball in a field on August 18, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (2003 Getty Images)

SAN PEDRO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - FEBRUARY 29: Haitian children play baseball on a batey on February 29, 2012 in San Pedro, Dominican Republic. A batey is the name given to communities that reside inside of sugar plantations in the Dominican Republic that are comprised mainly of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent. Living and working conditions inside the bateyes are often extremely impoverished, with limited access to health care, no running water or sanitary facilities and a lack of electricity. For decades Haitians have been fleeing the turmoil of their country to come and work as seasonal workers in the sugar cane industry in the Dominican Republic, with many staying on permanently in the country. It is estimated that somewhere between 500,000 and 1,000,000 Haitians are currently living Dominican Republic. Due to a climate of discrimination based on ethnic origins and a fear of a Haitian influx, the Dominican government has adopted policies that make it difficult to impossible for many Haitians to live a normal life in the country. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (2012 Getty Images)

CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: Players joke around during practice on the same field the bulls graze on for food on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (2003 Getty Images)

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO - MARCH 13: A fan flies the Dominican Republic flag during the game against Cuba during Round 2 of the World Baseball Classic on March 13, 2006 at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) (2006 Getty Images)

CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: A goat grazes in the same field where the players practice on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (2003 Getty Images)

CONSUELO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - AUGUST 20: Jose Piadoso Berroa (L) and Jose Eduardo Gabriel run sprints during practice on August 20, 2003 in Consuelo, Dominican Republic. Consuelo, which has ten programs for youths to learn and play baseball, is about 50 miles east of Santo Domingo. Of the ten programs, two provide housing for the players. One of which is Latin Baseball Academy, which was set up ten months ago by Luis Silvestre, a taxi driver in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) (2003 Getty Images)