Life Connected

Sports Foundation Creates ‘Field of Dreams' for Girls in South LA

Two-time Olympic softball medalist Natasha Watley is bringing softball to girls in South Los Angeles.

Olympic gold medalist Natasha Watley is creating a "field of dreams" by helping girls in South Los Angeles gain access to the sport of softball. 

"Softball completely changed my life," Watley said. 

The two-time Olympic softball medalist got her start in Irvine and played college-level ball at UCLA. 

Now, through her organization the Natasha Watley Foundation, the athlete is mentoring dozens of young girls in South LA. Teams in the softball league are connected to former college players who coach the girls. 

The foundation focuses on the four points of the diamond: discipline, dedication, dignity and duty.

"You have to be responsible to make sure that you are on the field on time and you're ready to work 100 percent," one of the program's participants Ashley said.

The connections made on and off the field help prepare the young women for the real world. 

The Natasha Watley Foundation partners with the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. The city recently allocated hundreds of thousands of dollars toward female sports in LA. 

The program has been so successful that the city is hoping to double the size in the next 12 months, according to General Manger of the LA Department of Recreation and Parks Michael Shull.

Watley said she hopes that additional funding will expand the program to cities around the country.

"When I started playing, I had no idea where softball would take me, the opportunities that it would open. So for me, I'm just trying to give that back to them," Watley said. 

Click here for more information on the Natasha Watley Foundation.

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