Aleshia Ocasio

Professional softball player Aleshia Ocasio visited the PIFBS warehouse in December of 2020, and helped generate softball donations for PIFBS in January 2021 with a social media campaign. Aleshia’s outreach helped generate donations of hundreds of dollars worth of softball gear plus monetary contributions that will go to help under-resourced communities develop their softball programs.

Ocasio is an advocate for voting rights and social justice, and works to raise awareness of inequality on and off the field. A former standout at the University of Florida, Ocasio has pitched professionally for the USSSA Pride, Chicago Bandits, and Athletes Unlimited.

Crystl Bustos

Three-time Olympic medalist Crystl Bustos was a Pitch In For Softball Advisory Board Member, helping key the creation of PIFBS’ original softball arm. In 2018, Bustos generously connected PIFS to Triple Crown Sports, which hosts the largest softball tournament in the world each year in Denver, Colorado.

Thanks to Bustos, PIFS and Triple Crown teamed up to host one of our first ever softball-centered collection drives at the 2018 Sparkler Tournament, with more than 90- teams in attendance. Bustos assisted with this event, and has helped spread awareness of PIFBS through giveaways on her social media platforms.

In December of 2020, Bustos sent us a donation of cleats, pants, gloves, and a catcher’s helmet. The world record holder for home runs during an Olympic series now owns and operates Ruthless Sports Training.

Dee Strange-Gordon

The former National League batting champion, Gold Glove winner, and two-time All-Star teamed up with PIFBS, Wilson Sporting Goods, SafeSpace, and the Jackie Robinson Training Complex to hold a drive-through equipment event and clinic on January 30, 2021 in Vero Beach, Florida.

The drive-through portion helped provide baseball gear to 115 children, followed by a socially distanced clinic for 20 kids from Vero Beach RBI and the domestic violence shelter SafeSpace.

Strange-Gordon handed out packs of gear provided by PIFBS and Wilson, and interacted with the children as their cars passed through. The drive-through was followed by an hour-long clinic, where Strange-Gordon taught basic baseball skills through soft toss and various stations, and spent one-on-one time working with the participants.

With masks and social distancing, Strange-Gordon was able to safely create positivity and hope for local children through the game of baseball during challenging times.

“I just want to inspire them to do whatever it is that they want to do great. It doesn’t have to be baseball, they can take my story and go be the best doctor ever if they want to be,” Strange-Gordon says. “I just want to let them know to be inspired to do something.”

Dellin Betances

In 2017, the big league right-hander worked with PIFBS to support Chiqui Mejias Academy in Bonao, Dominican Republic.

Betances grew up in Manhattan, but up until his early teens he would spend his summers in Santiago, Dominican Republic, where his parents are from. Betances collaborated with PIFBS, Wilson Sporting Goods, Nike, and Papa John’s to help nearly 100 children in the small town of Bonao to receive the equipment needed to play ball.

Betances and partners equipped kids with brand-new Wilson A500 gloves, Nike baseball cleats, New Era Yankees caps, and T-shirts with Betances’ silhouette on the front and his No. 68 on the back.

Between PIFBS, Wilson, Nike, and New Era, more than $30,000 worth of equipment was donated to the cause.