Caguas Stadium is now a center of military operation
South Carolina soldiers assigned to secure access to the PR-184 roads between Cayey and Guayama rest in these days in tents on the playing field of Yldefonso Solá Morales stadium in Caguas or on cots in the club house.
The command post for sending communications is on the mound of the pitchers, while a satellite dish was located next to the first base.
On the dugout bench some soldiers rest briefly and in the dressing room, where baseball leaders plan their strategies, the military unit operation center was established, with maps and missions listings.
"We set up a command camp, we're sleeping here and it's a well-protected area, so we can make sure we control who gets in and out," Lieutenant Thomas Keizer said.
"It has also helped that it is the fourth tallest building in Caguas and we have access to the roof that we have used to establish an antenna to carry communication that goes so far as to almost pass over the mountains of Cayey," he added.
The stadium suffered no dramatic damage from the hurricane although two light towers fell to the ground.
But, according to Agustín González, administrator of the park, the stadium would soon be able to be used if it decides to play winter baseball "as they plan to play during the day and depending on the damage done by the tower when it fell, it could be played because the terrain seems to be playable."
Carolina will not play in the winter league
"In the face of this devastating situation experienced by a large part of the citizenry, our north and fixed goal will always be to prioritize the most pressing needs of our dear Carolinians. There is no way to avoid this commitment contracted to serve our citizens and, much less, to divert attention and our efforts in other aspects than offering a solidarity embrace and attend with human warmth to all those people who now need us more than ever, "said Mayor Jose Carlos Aponte.
"Carolina will not participate this season in the winter baseball tournament. We are involved in rebuilding the City and meeting the needs of our citizens. Our immediate purpose is for Carolina to return, little by little, to normality and to resume the pace of development that has distinguished us so much.
We can not direct our human and economic efforts to fund a baseball tournament while most of our people still have no potable water, no food and no basic necessities, "Aponte said.
After the ravages of Hurricane Maria, the Roberto Clemente Walker Stadium suffered a series of major damages, including the mound, the lighting towers, the stands and the roof. It is estimated that the restoration of the carolinense stadium will cost about $ 12 million.
Carlos Beltrán is sending his sixth cargo mission to Puerto Rico with help for those affected by María
The Astros player's wife says they are still working to bring more relief to the Puerto Ricans.
There are already five cargo planes that Carlos Beltran has sent to Puerto Rico after the passage of Hurricane Maria, another arrives on Thursda and in the next few days will be shipped 20 more containers to bring more relief to those in need in the country. Undoubtedly, the Manatee player is hitting for an average of 1,000 in favor of the Island, just as he is coincidentally hitting for Houston in the playoffs. The veteran definitely deserves the Roberto Clemente prize that was won in 2013 when he played for the Cardinals of San Luis for being that year the player who best exemplified the Astro Boricua being beyond sportsman a humanist determined to help the people in need.
The aid sent to Puerto Rico by Beltrán and handled for distribution on the island by its Carlos Beltrán Foundation, has at the moment impacted the municipalities of Manatí, Barceloneta, Florida, Vega Baja and Dorado, reported to Primera Hora Jessica Beltran, the wife of the player, through communications by Facebook. Shipments have come from flights paid by Houston Astros owner Jim Crane and merchandise shipped bought for donations that includes $ 1 million contributed by Beltran himself and hundreds of thousands more for ordinary people, fellow players and others have offered their help.
Jessica informed all that on Thursday another island will receive aid destined for the municipalities of Aguadilla, Moca and San Sebastián. This will be sent by Major League Baseball funds.
"Meanwhile, on October 20 Carlos Beltran Foundation will send 20 containers to help 10 more municipalities," said Jessica.
On the other hand, Carlos Beltran's Baseball Academy staff in Florida and Puerto Rico, said that this Saturday, starting at 9:00 am, will be again cooking at their institution to bring food door-to-door to the residents of the town.
"This town has many needs and is home to our facilities and our students at the Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy. We need volunteers who can bring paella with gas to cook food, "said Beltran asking those who can help send information to your inbox on Facebook to know how much help will count on that day.
Correa to send more aid to the southern area of Puerto Rico
The shortstop already sent an airplane with supplies for his town of Santa Isabel.
Puerto Rican shortstop Carlos Correa is putting all his effort into helping the Houston Astros continue their passage to the World Series. However, he does not forget his people in Santa Isabel and the rest of the victims in Puerto Rico after the passage of Hurricane Maria three weeks ago.
Correa spoke with his partners at the sports shoe company Adidas, the grocery store HEB and the sports company Academy Sports to collect supplies for those in Santa Isabel and some of the nearby municipalities in the south of the island that were devastated by the passing of Hurricane Maria.
As was the case with outfielder Carlos Beltran, supplies were sent by Jim Crane's plane, owner of the Astros.
"When the hurricane happened, I met with my partners and commented on the situation. They gave me all the help and sent it to Puerto Rico. We send water, food and basic necessities. Everyone in my town got it, but I'm going to send more, "said Correa by telephone from Houston.
Correa said he has more pounds of supplies, but that he is in the process of getting a way to get them to Puerto Rico. "We are evaluating how to send them. Right now it is becoming difficult to find a way to send them with the speed we all want, "said Correa.
"At first it was difficult to play. He did not know how everyone was. I did not know about my grandmother and the rest of my relatives. My parents were worried and the only news that came to us was that the area where we lived had been flooded. The whole process was distressing. We then got communication and found out that all were well. That reassured me, "Correa said.
AT LEAST THESE SUPPLIES DON'T NEED FEMA PAPERWORK SIGNED BEFORE THE CITIZENS OF PUERTO RICO RECEIVE THEIR AID! TRUMP IS AN IDIOT! FEMA SHOULD BE ASHAMED!
