Summer is almost here, and one of the most popular American pastimes, baseball, is heating up on Cleveland’s West Side.
The West Denison Baseball League has kicked off its 71st season. The league began in 1955, when a few men organized a team of 28 boys who played as alternates in whatever pickup games they could schedule. The following year, they voted to organize a league of four teams, and the West Denison Baseball League began.
Today, the league offers a wide range of athletics for boys and girls ages 4-18. Tee ball, baseball, fast and slow pitch, and programs for children and adults with developmental disabilities are all part of the West Denison programming. Signal Cleveland sat down with three members of the West Denison Baseball League executive board to gain insight into the historic league.
A league of their own
Donna Woods is president of the league. She played baseball as a child growing up in Amherst and has been involved in the Denison league for just over 30 years.
“My oldest son played tee-ball in the league when he was five years old. My middle son began playing a couple years later,” Woods said. “The coach ended up quitting in the middle of the season. I was pregnant with my third child and decided to step up to be the coach, just to help out.”
Woods continued to coach for the next few seasons, including coaching an all-girls team and joining the executive board. Then the previous board president became ill and asked Woods to assume the role of president. She accepted. That was in 2013.
Mike Balina, treasurer of West Denison, has an even older connection to the league. He played as a child in the early 1960s and transitioned to coaching in the 1970s.
“I was fresh out of the Air Force, and my nieces and nephews were playing. My sons played and my grandchild played. Three generations of my family have played in this league,” Balina said. “I’ve held a lot of different positions within West Denison, and I’ve seen a lot of changes over time. I really love this league.”
Matt Jenks, vice president of West Denison, played in the league in the ‘90s. He continued his love affair with baseball when his son joined the league to play tee-ball.
“I live in the neighborhood, and the league was always looking for people to step up and help coach. I realized they needed help, so whatever I could do, I did,” Jenks said.
This year the three of them have made it their mission to support the league and players for yet another season, through coaching and mentorship.
Where have all the children gone?
During the peak of participation in the 1980s, the league saw 1,583 kids across 105 teams, making West Denison the largest independent league in Ohio at the time. Today, there are 120 players enrolled for the 2026 season. The board doesn’t believe the league will ever come close to the numbers it once had, as a few key factors have changed, namely the uptick in travel sports and competition.
“Honestly, I think there is a lot of pressure that comes from parents. They think they need to put their children in travel programs to make them a superstar. I don’t think travel programs are all that they are cracked up to be,” Woods said. “They can be very expensive, and it comes with a lot of pressure to win, which, for a child, can lead to injuries or burnout.”
“Baseball has gotten so complicated. Launch angle, exit velocity … all the fancy gear. The reality is, all you need is a pair of crappy tennis shoes and a glove.”
Matt Jenks, vice president of West Denison
Woods believes that children should be focused on a healthy mix of activities. Most importantly, she believes baseball should be fun: “A lot of our older boys come back to West Denison to play, and they will tell me that they come because they just want to have fun. They don’t want the pressure of high school baseball or travel. They just want to have fun with their friends for the last couple summers they can play together. That’s really what we focus on. It’s always about learning and having fun.”
Jenks expanded on Woods’ thoughts.
“Baseball has gotten so complicated. Launch angle, exit velocity … all the fancy gear. The reality is, all you need is a pair of crappy tennis shoes and a glove,” Jenks said. “I had a parent tell me that West Denison needed to be more competitive. Don’t get me wrong, I do my best to win. But if we don’t, whatever, we’ll go get hot dogs.”
Jenks told the story of a player who wasn’t very athletic, but worked with the coach all summer. Finally she got that hit and scored a run.
“She will remember that for the rest of her life,” Jenks said. “That’s what West Denison is about.”
See photos of the West Denison Baseball League from photographer Kenyatta Crisp.
West Denison Baseball League reclaims the narrative
In 2014, a tragedy occurred when a pair of shootings occurred at Thrush Park, where the league was playing games. One of those shootings resulted in a fatality during a West Denison league game. After that, some teams and parents refused to allow their children to play in the area. But West Denison continued on.
Since then, West Denison has made a conscious effort to maintain relationships with the Cleveland Police Department and the Ward 12 council member (now Tanmay Shah, formerly Brian Kazy), by providing them with advance copies of their game schedules and coordinating community engagement opportunities with the league.
“While it was an unfortunate incident, it had nothing to do with baseball. It just so happened that the shooting occurred when we were preparing to play there,” Woods said. “We’ve had a few other incidents occur since then, but nobody was hurt in those cases.”
League leaders feel it’s important to continue to play at the park and not allow one situation to prevent them from continuing the mission.
“We can’t promise that things won’t happen. We can’t control what people outside of us do,” Woods added. “We can just continue to educate and make sure that we put the kids first.”
Batter up!
On a recent overcast Wednesday evening, the league was scrimmaging around the corner from Thrush Park at James M. Dunphy Park. Parents of the players trickled in, greeting each other while they began to organize snacks and equipment and discuss the highs and lows of their day. There were just over 20 children in attendance. They have been practicing since the beginning of May, with their first regular season game scheduled for early June.
Among the first to arrive was Tony Dove with his seven-year-old son, Tony Jr., better known as TJ. Tony Dove loves sports. His oldest son currently plays professional basketball in Australia. His older sister, Bonnie Dove, played for the former WNBA team, the Cleveland Rockers, in 1997. Dove has been a West Park resident for 35 years.
“This is TJ’s first year at West Denison. He really loves the sport,” Dove said. “I chose the West Denison league for him because of the diverse culture here. The coaches are very hands-on, and even during the scrimmage, you had the kids supporting one another, regardless of which team they were playing for.”
Dove also volunteers to help when needed. Prior to the scrimmage, he pitched balls to his son and other children to help them warm up for the game. Dove is a firm believer in playing sports, as he believes it shapes youth for the better in the long run.
“Baseball teaches discipline and team work, which will help the youth develop a mindset of productivity and collaboration,” Dove said. “Those are skills that will serve them well in future employment, business ventures and family life.”
When asked if he enjoys playing baseball, TJ, who was laser focused on the scrimmage, simply nodded his head. Shortly after, he made contact with the ball – hitting a clean line drive down the first base line.
West Denison Baseball League FAQ’s
Q: How much does it cost to join?
A: Prices for enrollment range from $40-$80. Family discounts are available. West Denison wants to ensure every child has the opportunity to play baseball so if cost is a concern, the league is willing to work with you to find a solution.
Q: What are the practice/game schedules?
A: Practices start in May, games in June/July. Typically, there are 2-3 games a week in the evening.
Q: Do you have to be a resident of Cleveland to participate in the league?
A: No. The league is open to anyone who wants to play.
Q: How can I get involved in the West Denison Baseball League?
A: To get involved, visit the league’s website and create a profile. All volunteers must undergo a background check and complete concussion training. The league is also accepting donations that go towards team expenses (snacks, uniforms, etc.). To donate, click here.
*Translation services are available for those who speak Spanish
