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More than 360 Cy-Fair ISD students will take part in Dierker’s Champs in 2020. (Photos courtesy Cy-Hope)
Larry Dierker (right), former Houston Astros pitcher, helped launch Dierker’s Champs with Cy-Hope in 2011.
Dierker’s Champs Astros legend leads nonpro t into its 10th season W ith baseball season around the corner, students across Cy-Fair ISD schools are getting ready to take the eld. For more BY SHAWN ARRAJJ
HOWTOHELP There are several ways local residents can lend a hand to Dierker’s Champs. Interested volunteers are asked to contact Cy-Hope at 713-466-4673 or email cy-hope@cy-hope.org.
Dierker began his partnership to help launch the Cy-Hope league in 2011. He said he is motivated by giving children a chance to take part in something they otherwise would not have been able to. “When it comes to baseball you really have to start young because there are so many skills,” Dierker said. As Cy-Fair ISD embarks on plans to repurpose the sports elds at Cy-Fair High School, Dierker’s Champs is poised to begin playing games on land adjacent to Campbell Middle School starting in 2022, Dierker said. He said he and Cy-Hope are looking into opportunities to raise money and potentially purchase the land instead of leasing it, which would help the nonpro t avoid the costs of leasing while also opening doors to lease the elds out when not in use. Beyond the sport itself, Dierker said he loves to see families getting more involved with their children’s lives. “When we started out at our own eld ... a lot of people would just drop their kids o and pick them up,” he said. “Now, we get the bleachers full. All you have to do is walk out there for 15 minutes one Saturday and look around and walk back. You can feel it. It’s a positive vibe.”
Serve as a volunteer coach or umpire Help out at the on-site concession stand Sponsor a eld Make a nancial contribution
than 360 economically disadvantaged students, the season will kick o with a little help from a local nonpro t and a Houston Astros legend. Dierker’s Champs—a collaborative e ort between the nonpro t Cy-Hope and former Astros pitcher, manager and broadcaster Larry Dierker—kicks o March 21 at Cy-Fair High School. The league caters to elementary and middle school students within CFISD who are considered economically disadvan- taged, said Holly Calbat, director of nance and donor relations with Cy-Hope. Dierker’s Champs will eld 25 teams in the 2020 season, up from 19 teams in 2019, Calbat said. “We still weren’t able to take in everyone who applied, which kind of gives you an idea of how many students are eager to join,” she said. Families are asked to contribute $20 per player to Dierker’s Champs, but that cost is on an “if you can” basis, Calbat said. Cy-Hope covers the costs to hire umpires, to use the elds, and for uniforms and equipment for all players. All coaches are volunteers, and many are CFISD teachers, she said.
Dierker’s Champs Cy-Fair High School 15415 Cypress North Houston Road, Cypress 713-466-4673 www.cy-hope.org/dierkers-champs
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