JAMESTOWN, N.Y. — Shaniel Maldonado-Martinez, 19, is on the mound for the Jamestown Tarp Skunks in relief on what was a hot day for minor league baseball.

Maldonado-Martinez is from the Dominican Republic. His family still lives there and are proud of what he's accomplished.

"They always support me," said Maldonado-Martinez. "To be one of the first in the family to get out from the country and play the sport that I love."

What You Need To Know

  • The Jamestown Tarp Skunks are the latest team to play at Diethrick Park

  • All the teams in the Perfect Game Collegiate League are from New York

  • Members of the Jamestown Community got together and own the team, keeping it from leaving the city and state

His love for the sport started at age 9. He spent his high school years playing for St. Benedict Prep in New Jersey before joining the Tarp Skunks, who are part of the Perfect Game Collegiate League, which is made up of teams solely from New York, stretching from Jamestown to Amsterdam.

He and the other players from around the country live in the dorms at Jamestown Community College, his home away from home.

"The teammates. The coach. The staff. It's like your family. You feel like home. They open the door for you. It's great," said Maldonado-Martinez.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the owner of the team was going to move it to the midwest, which would have signaled an end an 80-year tradition of baseball in Jamestown.

That's when a group of local investors, including the man whose name is on the stadium, Russ Diethrick, got together at the request of attorney and baseball enthusiast Greg Peterson, to form Jamestown Community Baseball, LLC. They took ownership and thusly kept the franchise in town.

"I couldn't be more proud," said Peterson. "Who's who of the community, they've come together. They've congealed together for really one common goal, to have baseball in the summer as an affordable entertainment to our community."

They are also working to keep baseball both affordable and accessible.

"Just being able to meet the people from around this community makes this whole experience a lot more fun for the players, for the coaches and just everybody involved," said Ryan Hill, interim head coach of the Tarp Skunks.

That includes Maldonado-Martinez, who hopes to play for the New York Yankees one day. Until then, he is grateful for the opportunities along the way.

"It feels great when you look by and see all those people you know screaming at the team and screaming your name or your number, it's amazing," said Maldonado-Martinez.

And in case you were wondering how the team got its name, Spectrum News 1 has learned that a number of skunks, literally, can be found living in the tarp that protects the infield when it rains.