As T-baller Keoghan Walker heads toward first base, his older sister, Lilly, holds down the same position on the neighboring field in the 9-10U age group. On the sidelines, their parents, Cassandra and Tuck Walker, cheer with their heads on a swivel, trying to capture both of their children’s special moments on Saturday morning at Joe Rowell Park.
From Lebanon, the Walkers are now in their third year with the youth baseball program and appreciate how it offers something the whole family can enjoy while also being near home.
“It’s definitely convenient, especially when you have two kids playing,” said Cassandra Walker. “It works because a lot of their games don’t clash. It can feel like I have to prioritize, and I don’t want to do that. I want to give both my kids the opportunity to play if they want to.”
On the 15U field, parents Cinda and Cory Tunnell waited for their son, Tommy, to play later that afternoon. They appreciate that he will have a smoother transition into high school baseball alongside the same teammates he’s grown up playing with.
“We’re really looking forward to seeing him move into high school baseball and continue on with his teammates,” said Cinda Tunnell. “My dad and uncle played baseball and basketball for Dolores High School back in the ’70s, and we’d like to see that tradition carried on.”
Rachel Robson, a parent and local sponsor of DYB alongside her husband Josh, is excited about the long-term benefits of raising kids in a tight-knit sports community. Their son, Jaxx, plays in the 11-12U group.
“In sports, when you’re part of a team, you often build strong bonds and learn how to work together,” she said. “As the kids get older, they’ll have jobs where they’ll have to work in a team. If they can figure that out while they’re young, I think it’ll make their adult lives a lot easier.”
The idea of reviving the Dolores Youth Baseball program emerged five years ago, as communities were beginning to reconnect in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the need to rebuild a sense of community through a shared passion for baseball, a group of Dolores baseball moms took action. Kym Hampton led the charge in spearheading the initiative, joined by dedicated parents including Heather Skelton, Stephanie Lee, Kyan Maloney, Gary Hampton, and Rebecca and Joe Samulski.
“Our children had to go to Cortez (for youth league) and ended up split between different baseball teams,” Kym Hampton said. “So, our boys never got the chance to play together. A few of us moms got together and said, ‘Hey, we should bring Little League back to Dolores.’”
The group eventually drafted bylaws and established rules for the league before shifting their focus to recruiting local families. In their first year, the Dolores team played in Cortez but competed under their own name. By the following year, the program had grown enough to form its own independent league. Since then, participation has remained strong, Kym Hampton said.
This season features eight teams with around 90 participants and will run through mid-July. During the opening ceremonies on May 3, Mancos entered a team in the 11–13U group, while Durango brought their 15U team to compete against the Dolores teams, both of which Dolores won.
The league also gave several high school players the chance to give back, having been part of the first DYB group when it launched in 2020. Freshman Branson Lee, along with sophomores Levi Hampton and Orin Samulski, were on hand for opening day to umpire and mentor the younger players.
For Orin Samulski, the program offers a fun trip down memory lane and an opportunity to strengthen family bonds.
“It’s fun to look back at a younger version of myself. My younger brother plays too so I feel like I have a little bit more skin in the game,” Orin Samulski said. “I helped coach his team last year, so I love coming back down to watch him play ball.”
Levi values the strong connections he built with his teammates since their early days in DYB.
“I’ve played in Dolores my whole Little League career with the same group of kids,” Levi Hampton said. “We’re like a family. We’ve grown up together and really know each other, so it’s something pretty special.”
Mothers like Kym Hampton, whose son Levi is now on the Dolores High School team, and Heather Skelton, mother of fellow high school player Declan Warren, said they feel proud watching their sons, who grew up in the league, now pass down the knowledge and skills they gained over the years to the younger players in DYB.
“They’re coming back to umpire these games and it’s so cool to see,” said Kym Hampton. “They help with practices and during a scrimmage earlier, they would pause the game at times to help the kids with their positioning on the bat.”
Brandon Range, now the head coach of the high school team, once coached in the Little League program, bringing his journey nearly full circle.
After moving to Dolores in 2010 with a baseball background, Range joined an adult softball league, as there was no adult baseball league at the time. Through that experience, he met Kym Hampton, who invited him to get involved with the Little League program as a coach.
“The group of kids we have now (in high school) started in Little League a few years ago,” said Range. “It’s been awesome to see their growth and the transition they’ve made. We still have a young team with the potential to carry on for the next two to three years and set the example for the younger kids coming up.”
Now that DYB is well-established, the next step in its growth is upgrading the fields.
“We’ve been working with the town of Dolores on a grant for new dugouts, bathrooms, and improved field material,” said Kym Hampton. “I think if we can improve the facility, it’ll not only look better, but it’ll also encourage more people to come back.”
The program is always open to recruiting volunteers throughout the season to help keep things running smoothly. The members of DYB encourage community members to become involved.
“We’re always looking for anyone willing to help or interested in carrying this forward,” said Kym Hampton. “It takes a lot of time and effort, but we don’t want the league to fade away. We want it to keep growing and thriving.”
Parents like the Walkers, Tunnells, and Robsons said similar feelings about the importance of keeping the program alive.
“I’m just really happy the program is back,” Cassandra Walker said. “It works for us and the community.”
“We just hope that the community continues to support Dolores baseball and its development,” said Cinda Tunnell.
“I like to see communities come together for the kids and I like to see local businesses sponsor these communities,” Rachel said. “I think we’re investing into our youth, which is important.”
More information about Dolores Youth Baseball can be found on their website and on their Facebook page, both listed under the same name.
