Led Black (00:00)
if you want to know the secret of Dominican baseball, why Dominicans dominate, right? And I say that not just because I'm Dominican, but we do dominate. We're a small country. And you know, in the Dominican baseball classic, we electrified the world, So I think people don't realize, like, what this man, Kevin, is doing is basically he's giving you the secret sauce. If you want to know why Dominican players are so good, it's because of Vitilla.

Octavio Blanco (00:43)
It's not baseball. It's not football. But it's like baseball has nothing to do with football. before we before we introduce our guests, as always,

Led Black (00:44)
What up, what up, what up?

Octavio Blanco (00:52)
I want to ask our viewers to please subscribe to the podcast. It helps us out. It doesn't cost you anything. And

It makes us feel good to know that people care enough to click the subscribe button. So it's great.

I'm here with my brother from another mother, Led Black, joining us from a secret super secret location. Your secret bunker and how you doing? ⁓ That's right. We're look we're

Led Black (01:20)
What up, brother?

Yeah, I'm on my secret bunker.

Octavio Blanco (01:25)
We're hiding from the drones.

Led Black (01:27)
The last

Octavio Blanco (01:28)
We're hiding from the drones.

Led Black (01:27)
got me in trouble, I

Kevib (01:27)
So, thank Thank you.

Octavio Blanco (01:30)
We got a very special guest with us today. His name is Kevin Reyes.

Led Black (01:30)
in my secret bunker, you know what mean?

The authorities are looking for me. Yeah.

Octavio Blanco (01:38)
He's the president and founder of

Li Vido USA, which is a really cool ⁓ organization.

He is bringing a

sport

to the United States, a sport that is played mainly in the Dominican Republic Republic called vitilla. And if you don't know what vitilla is, basically it's the secret weapon of Dominican Republic baseball stars, one of the most important reasons that so many.

Kevib (01:56)
So, ahead So, I'm to little

Octavio Blanco (02:13)
Dominican Republic baseball stars are so excellent at the sport of baseball.

Kevin, welcome to the show.

Led Black (02:21)
What is the event coming up? What is going on?

Kevib (02:25)
OK brother, we an event that we've been doing as a tradition since 2024, in Washington Heights, on 181st and Saint Nicolas. The event is part of the Car Free Earth Day from DOT, the Department of Transportation which gives us the opportunity to bring La Vitilla this traditional game of the Dominican Republic Republic

Led Black (02:49)
And he was saying that he thinks that's the secret of the Dominican Republic baseball player What do think about that?

Kevib (02:53)
and

I would say yes, because every Dominican Republic baseball player in particular always plays La Vitilla in one way another. sometimes they play batting corn, but La Vitilla has popular for many years.

Led Black (03:13)
So we're going explain what is La Vitilla for those who don't know what is La Vitilla, why the difference between that and baseball.

Kevib (03:20)
La Vitella is the little cap that we use with the Big Bottles of Water in Dominican Republic Republic. So Vitella is a derivative from the baseball. It's an urban game. So a lot of people in the 60s, 70s, they tried different ways to try to play baseball due to the poor economy that they had at the time They get the plastic cap for the Big bottle of Water for a company specific. So with the passage of the time, a lot of people

have had the opportunity to introduce the game in a lot of neighborhoods. So, since then we have taken the initiative, least through the years, to bring it here to the United States. It all started as simple recreation between two or three friends, but everything grew So, everything expanded, we made the non-profit and we are here distributing what this game is in different parts of New York City.

and we also visit other states promoting it, but we here so that the entire community, least every time we have activities, congregate with us and give that positive to the community.

Led Black (04:33)
It's like the ball, but you don't have ball, you just have the cap with it, right? It makes it much more difficult.

Kevib (04:37)
Yes, it's a...

It's a cap. I can't show it right now because I don't have it close, but later I can show to So it's a cap. Yes, it's a small The same big water jugs they use here, the big It's more or less that size, but it a specific And we use that as tradition for long time, and least the community, the times we do activities.

Led Black (04:46)
It's a little cap

Kevib (05:07)
Enjoy the game, both young and old. It's game for all ages.

Led Black (05:12)
Incredible, so what are they going to dedicate 181st street for that? We won't see any cars, just Vitilla?

Kevib (05:22)
We're going to be between 181 and 182. We're going to occupy a Block and a half. We're going be there with the whole community, the teams that are from La Liga, who have found us through social media networks. We're to have really cool activities there will be different types of attractions. on the street all around there, because the department of Transportation, DOT, has closed the streets from the 181 until the 190, they allow us to

Led Black (05:26)
Wow, blocky people, wow, incredibly.

Kevib (05:50)
offer this game because DOT has loved it.

Led Black (05:54)
So, it's part of the "Festival Del Boulevard," That's what you're saying?

Kevib (05:56)
Yeah,

yeah, We are partners from the DOT when they put the car free earth day and the summer streets you know, in the spring and in the summer. So we started with the DOT working in 2024. from 2024, gave me the opportunity to put the Vitilla game in a specific streets like 181st and San Nicolas.

Led Black (06:20)
So, one way.

Kevib (06:20)
Excuse me

with my English because you know I can defend a little bit.

Led Black (06:24)
Whatever you want, brother, English, Spanish, whatever you like. when is the day?

Kevib (06:29)
The day in specific is April 25th we start the tournament around 10 a.m. until 3.30 p.m. So we have 16 teams that they're going to, you know, to

to make the competition to try to win the medals in the first, second and third place. So, 16. Yes, he said.

Led Black (06:49)
So, all right, so let

me, I'll say it in English. So it's going to be 16 teams competing on Saturday, April 25th. At what

Kevib (07:04)
10 am to 3.30 pm

Led Black (07:07)
So it's going from 10:30 to 3:30. You have to check this out. You know, if you want to know the secret of Dominican baseball, why Dominicans dominate, right? And I say that not just because I'm Dominican, but we do dominate. We're a small country. And you know, in the Dominican baseball classic, we electrified the world, right? So I think people don't realize, like, what this man, Kevin, is doing is basically he's giving you the secret sauce. If you want to know why Dominican players are so good, it's because of Vitilla.

So make sure you come out, make sure you watch, it's be a really fun event. And I think I've seen pictures and it looks really cool. how did you start how many years have you been doing this?

Kevib (07:38)
we started in 2023 visiting different places in New York ,

Then we went to visit other states, but then we had our official season since 2024. So after the San Nicolas event on 181st on April 25, our season of 10-Sundays starts from May 17 to July 19 at Marble Hill Playground. So everybody that they go to, yeah, in the Bronx.

Led Black (08:13)
you

Kevib (08:21)
So anyone that they want to enjoy to play Vitella, they can call us or send a message on Instagram. So we do the activity every Sunday around 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. So we bring the trophy to the best player, to the MVP, to the Cy Young, to the glove award. So we do our own ceremony like in September.

So we highlight the best players and give them their prizes.

Led Black (08:56)
enable it.

So So ⁓

Kevib (09:01)
See

May 17th.

Led Black (09:12)
So from May 17th, they're going to be where? What's name of the park?

Kevib (09:17)
MARBLE HILL PREGROUND

Led Black (09:19)
So, Marble Hill Playground starting May 17th, they're gonna be doing 10 consecutive weeks. And what's amazing is this is a league, so they're gonna get, you know, people are get awards for best, offense, right? What else? mean, all the fans are coming.

Kevib (09:32)
So,

no, no, no, no, we're going to give awards

to give the community that huge school so that children can their usefulness.

See.

And as I said, it's the secret of baseball. It's the secret of baseball. You can follow us on Instagram at www.lividoUSA.org. So you can contact us If you need any kind of activities in any sector you want us to bring La Vitilla we are available for any type of event and collaboration.

Led Black (09:45)
Secret, the secret sauce.

Kevib (10:09)
Thank God we are supported by the community since we started because they liked what we do and it's game that you have a good time

Led Black (10:17)
And you still play too?

Kevib (10:19)
Of course, I was champion last season with the team I belonged to, the Titans.

Led Black (10:21)
Hahaha

What team are you? What team?

Kevib (10:28)
It's a little different depending on the season because if a team has few players. We try to make it , as much possible, to make the event as good possible. But in the season, the teams are 10 players. this moment, 10 teams will participate which we're already in the process of the draft, which will be today at an event tonight Yes, because we have a group of people who arrived new, which we are going to...

Led Black (10:50)
You have a draft?!

Kevib (10:58)
⁓

Led Black (11:00)
and will expand it to other places after this. They want to to other places in the country, other places.

Kevib (11:07)
Yes, our itinerary for this year is to visit other states that we haven't been to promote the game. At least in Pennsylvania we year and do something. We to Providence, we have players from Providence who come every Sunday. We players from Pennsylvania who come every Sunday to compete, also from Boston. But we also to this year to if we to Florida.

Led Black (11:09)
Thank

Kevib (11:35)
to test the market there with the community there and in the future do inter-state games.

Led Black (11:38)
loud.

Of Also, Lorne Massaciusi, who good American.

Kevib (11:45)
Yes, of course. So those are the plans. We do the following. From here we get a selection and travel to the Dominican Republic at an event that we there called Kings of the Street, in which different provinces participate plus the capital Santo Domingo and we as a selection representing the diaspora.

Led Black (12:00)
It's incredible.

Incredible, Manu. And when is that?

Kevib (12:08)
We have it planned for November god willing Last year we it in October, but we want to that tradition so the guys here get encouraged and our team we go there to compete so that the culture continues to be promoted

Led Black (12:25)
So for those that don't know, basically the best players from this vitilla season are gonna go to DR and then play the players from over there. this is a beautiful movement of taking culture, right? Sometimes culture is not just music or sports, right? And baseball means so much to Dominicans. People don't realize that it was the Americans in the first, when they occupied us in 1916, that's where the love of baseball comes for us as well as for the Japanese. Insane, man. ⁓

Kevib (12:50)
Look what I found The vitilla!

Led Black (12:55)
Put it closer so I can see it. Put it in the middle. Don't put the map on your face. Oh, like that. That's not easy, bro. That's not easy to hit. That's not easy.

Kevib (13:04)
This blue,

Octavio Blanco (13:05)
So for those looking, that's what they're hitting. That little cap is how these kids are playing in the DR, right? So it's not a full baseball. This is like half the circumference of this small little thing. So it just shows you a scale that's Fabio, I'm hearing myself.

Kevib (13:06)
the we is white, but this is blue, I have as memory, but the we is white. This is the famous cap, the famous cap.

Led Black (13:18)
So for those looking, that's what they're hitting. That little cap is how these kids are playing in the DR, right? So it's not

a full baseball. This is like half the circumference of this. It's a

small little thing. So it just shows you the skill that's developed.

Octavio Blanco (13:30)
Sorry, one second. I'm trying to fix things here.

Kevib (13:36)
This is the white one. This is the we use for our activities. This is white There are other colors, but we standardize using this one, since in baseball you use a white one to give it the follow. So we have our own rules. Some are similar to baseball, but we practically something similar. The only is that in the field, in the field,

We play with five players, pitcher, catcher, first base, third base and center field. And we use the DH like, you know, the sixth man So we play three innings, three outs.and we have our own umpires to everything goes according to the rules.

Led Black (14:24)
Tell me some of the reactions of when they see see that. They went nuts, I imagine

Kevib (14:30)
Yes, here the diaspora, not everyone is carrying this constant, continuous may be that someone plays among friends for day, already constantly, activities, because we are a registered non-profit in the city of New York. So when they that we well organized, that we do everything by the book, that we are receiving support from the community, from the councils.

of small businesses that are slowly in what we are. That gives it plus. And when we're doing activities like Car Free Earth Day which is in of the whole community and that huge audience that when it's seen in the street, people says, "oh wow, Vitilla! and that's here!?" We say, "sure since 2023 we are here."

Led Black (15:16)
And that idea, where does it come from? "I want to bring Vitilla to the world." How did that idea come to you?

Kevib (15:21)
No, it was something that came up to do something with friends. And then the news spread some friends told other friends, social networks were a way that helped us to reach more people and everything was coming alone until today we have been walking little by little, achieving a little more than before.

Led Black (15:48)
And a question, and over there is the game played with the same fanaticism or not?

Kevib (15:54)
There are leagues that have the organized Vitilla Apart from neighborhoods that play as they understand it, that the game But there are leagues there organized, that have been more than 10 years, doing creating the structure for tournaments, season So here we are also doing our part to continue carrying what is the La Vitilla since we are working.

Octavio Blanco (16:18)
Hey, can you hear me? Can you hear me? I'm

I wanted to ask you is the spread of the through the United States. Because the Dominicans

Kevib (16:22)
Say it.

Octavio Blanco (16:39)
There were many Dominicans here in New York, but now Dominicans all over the world. The Dominican Republic people have gone all over the world and they've gone all over the country. So have you seen Vitilla sort of...

Kevib (16:40)
you

Octavio Blanco (16:52)
gaining ground naturally across the United States.

Kevib (16:55)
Normally, the Vitilla, every Dominican Republic, know about the game.

So we try to be the best when we promote the game in our social media in any way that we can. because there are companies that manufacture vitilla that also their part of expanding selling the product. So in the end, way or another, least the vest is always to reach more people, doesn't matter the nationality.

Octavio Blanco (17:17)
huh.

Kevib (17:27)
What we always try to is everyone who watches us play, in whatever part of the world, gets involved and have a good time Because it's a game that you get de-stressed if you a very stressful That when you play, you even feel comfortable with the pain the next day, from running and stretching. You wow, I feel comfortable, my body but I feel good.

Octavio Blanco (17:35)
You

yeah, how hard, once you get into it, do you get, is it easier to hit that little Vitilla? because looking at it from

me, I'm like, I'll never hit it. But when I see, you know, I see people playing it, they hit it.

Kevib (17:57)
Yeah, it's easy!

Yeah, it's easy when you try, you know, a couple of times you get everything because it's basically the same baseball. The only thing different is the bat and the ball because, you know, we use a broomstick like a bat and we plastic cap. But when you adapt your adapt your eyes in the cap, everything is good. You can hit it anywhere that you can basically.

Led Black (18:23)
So you're also using a broomstick, so you're not even using a...

Octavio Blanco (18:25)
No, but Kevin says it's

not difficult, and he says it's not difficult. ⁓

Kevib (18:27)
No, it's a broomstick.

Led Black (18:29)
It's a pair of elbow

with the pin. That's to double difficult. We're going to the ball It's incredible, man. Incredible.

Kevib (18:30)
See.

Yeah, because that

No, it's not. Yeah, it's very easy because for example, when you try, let me see if I pitch a couple of times, like a four or five times, maybe you hit two or three of the Vitilla that I, you know, throw it. But the secret of the baseball that I mentioned before is the Vitilla with the broomstick because when you have the broomstick, when you get the real bat, you see the real ball very huge in your eyes because you know.

Of in the end, all that coach that is training young people at the level of baseball, at some point, teaches them something with the stick. At some point, because you develop more when you're to throw on the sides of the arm or any other type of thing. Because in the end, La Vitilla can be used for any type of scenario that has to do with baseball or softball. For example, in schools, if you introduce La Vitilla

and adapt the youth with La Vitilla and when they come to play baseball they will have a better performance.

Octavio Blanco (19:39)
Yes.

Led Black (19:41)
Yeah, know, what I find incredible, right, is that this came about because of need right? These kids were too poor to afford baseballs, too poor to afford backs, right? And here comes these kids and this becomes like the secret to Dominican Republic baseball greatness.

Tell me something that. What do think?

Kevib (20:01)
No,

We played with the bottle cap because it what we had at the time. But of we have also with those small cas but we adapted more to the bigger cap. Over time, the cap was changing style until this has been the that has been the benefit for the game. It is more resistant, has better grip and better precision when you throw. But at least over time the game remains.

The same baseball players, wherever they something to do with Vitella, stop and say, no, wait, this is the root of us.

Led Black (20:39)
And another question, what the pitch? It's difficult for the pitch, but with the arm, so you screw up the arm either.

Kevib (20:45)
No,

the pitchers have to train a lot because the pitcher has the most responsibility because he is the guides the game and they have to try different pitches because in our case we use the pitcher, we the catcher but in front of the catcher we put a strike zone so the pitcher has to try to the bat touch the strike zone so they can try to make out

Led Black (20:53)
Claro Claro

Kevib (21:14)
But many times if he has a good defense around him, good third base and first and so on, he can do well in any game. But sometimes are batters who are very good batters, who have lot of dexterity that can also damage to the pitch. But the pitch has to train a lot to master the different types of pitching. Because there are when there pitches that throw in that way, others throw it this way, others throw it like this. There are different types of method.

Octavio Blanco (21:34)
You have already talked about...

It can give you

two curves sometimes, I imagine. what I've understood is that home bass, first bass, second bass, and home bass again. It's a triangle, right? It's a triangle. Basically you got home bass,

Led Black (21:44)
Incredible, incredible.

Octavio Blanco (22:00)
Then a little line, a long line to basically first base and then short to the what would be second base, but would actually be like third base in a baseball field. And then you just come home. it's just like a little triangle kind of thing. So that also like gives it like, like that extra, like you got to run fast to get to where you're going to get the base, right?

Kevib (22:07)
Yeah.

Led Black (22:21)
really.

Kevib (22:22)
Yeah. is pitcher, catcher, first base, third base, and center field. So,

It's basically the same triangle that Otavio The only thing is that there some people who their own activities that they are going to do, sometimes they use four bases, which is like Major League with the baseball, but we try to take it the way we are doing it, three. We have an order, we differentiate a little bit from baseball, although we come from there, but that gives it a unique touch to differentiate a little.

Octavio Blanco (22:48)
See, see.

Led Black (22:58)
When you've played this year again.

Kevib (23:00)
I'm almost retiring because, tell me, there are so many things, but in the end you say you're going retire, but you don't leave the passion because it's something that takes you out of any kind of negative situation, which when you see that you're playing, you're full of emotion and you know that what rains are many memories. So, no matter how much you say, I don't play anymore, I play, no matter how you say no.

Led Black (23:02)
Gazi Gazi.

Kevib (23:25)
We have younger players, let's 9, 8, 10, 12, up to 18, the teens as But we also have adults, 18 and older, who also like to the game and they get their time every Sunday to play. The teams for the season are very because they like to compete and most them go. What I is that in the park where we

One category is at one end, other is at the other. The activities out every Sunday we can play a lot of games We have good time We always have refreshments there for everyone. In the end, it's something to share with family. Everyone also carries their family and friends.

Octavio Blanco (24:05)
And, And,

Led Black (24:15)
Incredible, incredible, what a good idea.

Octavio Blanco (24:17)
Tell us a little bit about your life. When did you here? When did you start with this idea? And how did you the desire to move forward?

and make this a success. What I see is that it is a success because you are there with the city, you in the streets, the closed streets, summer streets, and you doing it. So tell us a little bit about you, Kevin, and how did all this come to be?

Kevib (25:01)
Bueno.

I am a young fighter with big dreams, which I arrived to this country, the United in 2017, working honestly as one more immigrant But thank God and the discipline that has led me to follow the path that I already gone through different stages in this country, achieving certain personal things. The time has in 2023

After I started doing different things in the Dominican Republic Republic with the community, I started doing something here. But what I never thought was that was going to that result that today many people continue with us participating, which is is to make the league. It all started as a tournament, but then when we saw we the league, but when we saw that everything was walking so fast, we did the procedure of the non-profit.

When in the beginning we were 10, then we were 40, over time were more. We expanded, we brought the game along with all the players from LaLiga and the different teams from different areas. And everything grew out nowhere. Nothing was like a specific plan Everything came about with God's God was the guide and the rudder And then everything was set up itself, but of course...

With the dilligence that we never stopped. We always did what we knew how do, which was to play. The only thing that, on my part, I put the idea of giving a lot of content to social media a lot of content a lot of content until the content...

Led Black (26:30)
For the moon

Kevib (26:48)
started to show results. at first we didn't have what we wanted because everything is a process. But later we know how to some kind of content that many people react to. And when they the videos they oh look, I want to subscribe, I want to play, what is needed, how do I it? So even those live far away in other states ask me "how do I get the material?" I give them best possible way to have it. But everything happened.

From nothing Really, I didn't plan it my partners didn't plan it we didn't know that today we'd have so much support and acceptance

Led Black (27:25)
That's amazing. And just for those who don't know, you know, he's basically saying like, you know, everything kind of fell into place, you know what I mean? And the brilliance of it, it's one of those ideas that just, you know, just, it was so great. And the use of social media was key in spreading the word, right? Like, so it's like, because it strikes a nerve, I think, for people from the Dominican Republic Republic, it's a nostalgia thing. And I think Kevin has been brilliant at using social media.

to really get the word out. And it's funny you say that Kevin because yo vi foto. ⁓

Kevib (28:03)
Diga.

Todavia, no esperemos que algún dia si.

Octavio Blanco (28:06)
Yeah. And, he's us.

Go ahead, Kevin. No, you go, Kevin.

Kevib (28:09)
Sorry.

Led Black (28:13)
No, no, get get it, get it, it.

Kevib (28:15)
What happens is that since we are doing this activity that you mentioned there in Washington High, for all the Dominicans, that has been like the heart of the Dominicans in that area. Of there are Dominicans and others Latinos in different areas, but that specifically gives a plus to what we do because we are taking to that part what we have been bringing from the Dominican Republic

Led Black (28:28)
Mm-hmm.

Octavio Blanco (28:31)
Hey, man, I...

Yeah, the center of the gasper. What I want I want to just say, you know, he was also saying that,

and this is like an inspiration for anybody out there who's trying to do their thing. It's an inspiration for me too. He said, just constantly doing it never stopping, you don't stop you just you have a letdown, that's okay. You just put one foot in front of the other and you just keep going. Consistency is the secret.

Led Black (28:41)
because it wasn't the height of the center of the diaspora.

Octavio Blanco (28:59)
plus, you know, by the grace of God and all of that, but consistency is the secret. You just have faith that it's gonna be a success and you keep doing it. It's something that you love to do. You think it's important and you just keep doing it and consistency, consistency, consistency. It's an inspiration for anyone who is trying to something. And also for people who think they can't do something. It's something that I think...

Kevib (29:10)
you

you

Octavio Blanco (29:28)
that I think something that people who even if they think I can't do it, it's an example of like, just put, just put your goals out there, put it out to, to the universe or your higher power, say, this is what I want to do and just pursue it. And you know, it's not going to be perfect immediately, but as long as you're consistent in doing it, you're going to get rewarded for it. So I really, really.

I knew, and that's how I found you by the way. I found you on social media. I saw what you were doing and I your videos, which are great. The editing, the shots, everything. You a very good job of social which maybe can also be something else

I was telling, I was complimenting him on the socials because the videos are engaging, the shots are really interesting. You can feel the love and the community and that's something.

that we, me and Let are always talking about. When the is over or when the kids graduate onto greater things,

What's been sort of like the reaction or from the community? Yeah.

Kevib (30:54)
I have some parents of the young people have, minors, who, once the summer ends they want me to come back because the same young people tell their parents that they want to keep playing Vitilla but since we hardly play in winter because we have rent certain spaces that are occupied, they tell hey, my son is driving me crazy because he wants to keep playing. What are we going to do?

Octavio Blanco (31:10)
Yeah

Led Black (31:18)
Okay.

Kevib (31:21)
I tell you, no, unfortunately we are trying to a roof or if one day we can later with funds have our own space of some community center to promote both the club and other sports, it would fantastic. But many of them are delighted because every video that I upload two or three connects with some parent or it is also for them to play or they also bring their children so that they play an example.

Led Black (31:30)
you

Kevib (31:49)
Last Sunday we some videos for this week. Yesterday and some people that they want to and others are going to their children, some are going to take a cousin. So something that quickly impacts you. So acceptance of the community and parents, also young people love it. Because there are even coaches.

the baseball. ⁓

Octavio Blanco (32:17)
See.

Led Black (32:22)
Incredible, man. So maybe in the future we'll see a Winterleague.

Kevib (32:28)
We have done

Christmas tournaments of one day, but if we have something more constant for the winter, we can do something spectacular. It's a of time. We don't despair because we know that everything is in its way. But according to what we in mind, believe me, many positive with the favor of God are going to happen.

Octavio Blanco (32:40)
Yo quiero ver la vitilla en ESPN.

Led Black (32:51)
I love to hear it. love to hear it. Yeah, yeah, for sure, man.

Kevib (32:57)
Someday we that everything will happen the way and that La Vitilla will boom will so that least that door will open because what will happen if all this happens is that many young people particular will have the opportunity instead of being in negative to be doing something productive.

Octavio Blanco (33:07)
Yeah.

Led Black (33:19)
And I imagine that one day, think that here in this country, the kids will start training with Vitilla a I think that's a good idea. What do think?

Kevib (33:28)
Of

We are trying to bring programs into the schools. We are already communication. We have had school activities for a day, but we are already planning the programs so that after school or any event, we continue to Because if the vitilla gets used more constantly as training, it gives a better result to the young person is practicing that discipline of baseball.

Led Black (33:35)
Mmm.

Claro.

Yeah, like what I was saying is that, know, Betilla came about in the Dominican Republic Republic out of necessity, right? But this could also be a way of training baseball players not out of necessity, just to make the baseball player better, right? Using a smaller bat and a smaller ball, and it's not even a ball, it's really hard. Like a lot of times in basketball, people shoot with a bigger ball, right? Because it's hard to get that bigger ball in the same size net. So this is the same principle. So I think, Kevin, you onto something, brother. I think you had a good idea.

Kevib (34:25)
Claro.

Of it's like I say to some people, never give up on pursuing your dream. Always keep going the same discipline, keep giving it your all, because in end, you giving it that discipline will give you a result. Because in an example, as I say to some of my from our list of wishes, I consider that we are two. Having our own play or field of vitilla

and that the game becomes a recognized sport. We already have our non-profit, we have players, have the materials, we have the whole base. Only in our dreams we lack two things, is our own field or community center and apart from that, that becomes sport because we have crossed many doors that have not led to certain things that at least the road is little shorter than it used to

Octavio Blanco (35:14)
Well, you say you want it to become a sport, but I think it is a sport because for

I can feel the passion and the way you described sort of like the emotion of it and how you feel like after a game. That's sport. That's the beauty of sports. You know, I played soccer. I played lacrosse and you know, you know, all these all these sports. It's just about getting out there with your team.

Led Black (35:24)
Amen.

Octavio Blanco (35:42)
And whether you win or you lose, you play the game, after the game, you feel great. You've like expended energy, your endorphins are kicking, and you just feel better about the world. you know, that's what people, you know, sport. I think in the United States, sports are so huge. And unfortunately, or fortunately, I don't know whether it's, what side of the coin it is, but you know, people want to play sports because like, I wanna be a baseball player or basketball player and make millions of dollars.

Okay, that's great, but the chances of somebody actually doing that are quite low. Not to say you shouldn't try, you should try. But just playing sport for the love of the sport is so important. And it's so important. It gives you an emotion, it you an energy, like what you were describing. So I'm very happy that we were to talk to you today.

Kevib (36:39)
No, no, thanks to you for the opportunity, since thanks to you we can reach more people who may be in the game. Also, as I explain, everything has been because God has allowed it. Today I am with you because things came light and God wanted everything to happen like this. Nothing was planned, that's I

Octavio Blanco (36:57)
Yeah.

That's right. That's right. And yeah.

Kevib (37:02)
Keep

going, keep going, keep going because you never know what is the result.

Led Black (37:10)
Kevin,

April 25,

Kevib (37:18)
10am to 3.30pm.

Led Black (37:21)
10 AM to 3.30 PM, I'm gonna be there. I think Octavio's gonna be there. I'm willing, again, I'm Dominican, but I came here, I came at five. So I didn't play a lot of Vitilla And when one come here, you play the sports that are from here. So I played a little bit football, I played basketball. I played basketball I played basketball But my brother played Vitilla which 10 years So I want everyone to come out, check this out, support this young man. Is one in the first?

Kevib (37:35)
That's it.

Octavio Blanco (37:36)
And where is it? Where, where, where is it?

Kevib (37:43)
it.

Led Black (37:50)
to 182nd. So they got a block and a half on St. Nick in the heart of the Washington Heights with the bridge apartments and the backdrop. So this is going to be beautiful. Come out, show pictures.

Octavio Blanco (37:57)
He dropped off, I think he's trying to get back on here.

And what an amazing guy, you know, what an amazing guy, right? Another guy from our community doing amazing things from just from the heart. You know what saying?

Led Black (38:10)
I'm very excited about April 25th. I didn't grow up playing Vitilla you know what mean? I I came too early from D.R. for that to be my sport. My older brother played it, and I think this is gonna be really fascinating for people to see the sport. thankfully Kevin came along and is doing his thing, right? And it shows you, like you said, the power of perseverance and believing in yourself. And this is not something that anyone, it's not like, hey, let's play this game and play D.R., let's make it a thing here.

Octavio Blanco (38:28)
Yeah.

Yeah.

Led Black (38:38)
That's a long struggle. But my man didn't give up on himself and it's a beautiful thing to see. And that's what this show was about, Like highlighting the people, doing things that, know, especially immigrants, that come from, he started, he came in 2017. That's crazy, right? Like he just got here. He hasn't even been here 10 years. And, you know, and he starts this thing. So I'm really glad that he's on the show. I'm glad for you, Octavio I don't think I'll tell you enough. You know, I like to argue with you a lot. I like to fight with you. I like to fuck with you. And then, yeah, yeah.

Octavio Blanco (38:42)
I know, I know, it's...

wait, Kevin's back. Kevin's back. Go ahead, go ahead, go ahead.

Led Black (39:08)
Kevin, brother, thank you for everything. we lost you, but we're to be there on the 25th supporting you. And keep brother, keep going. And thank you for everything. And also, you're an inspiration, like Octavio said. What you do, you don't have 10 years here, brother. You don't even 10 years here. And you've done a lot. You took something that is something of the culture that not everyone knows. And you that and you're putting it out there. So thank you for everything you do, Kevin.

Kevib (39:38)
No, gracias de verdad que sí por su palabra. Son bien recibidas ya que como nos dice empezamos el 23 ya tenemos tres años esperemos que dios siga dando las bendiciones porque al final tenemos los pies sobre la tierra

You what We what we're doing after we saw the road. But what does mean to any young person, regardless of if they a project and it's working out or you see that can work out for don't give up.

Octavio Blanco (39:58)
Si, es palante, siempre palante. Bueno, Kevin, muchisimas gracias. Thank you very, very much. I'm gonna stop the re...

Led Black (40:10)
Dalle, ballante!

Octavio Blanco (40:11)
We'll see you on the 25th. I'm gonna stop the recording now, but give me, don't... ⁓

Led Black (40:14)
Okay, everyone. Gracias, Kevin.

Kevib (40:18)
Gracias ustedes, nos vemos el 25.