Lakeland's Donald Zanders hopes to create youth baseball program
One Polk County resident is in the process of developing a youth baseball program in the city of Lakeland.
Donald Zanders, a Lakeland native who graduated from Kathleen in 1978, is trying to procure funds and equipment for a baseball program that will allow all kids ages 5-12 in Lakeland to start playing America’s pastime. Helping out Zanders are former Kathleen football standouts: wide receivers Andre Walker and Greg Anderson and running back Darrell Chapper. Shandale Terrell and Deion Zanders, Don's son, are helping as well.
“I’m trying to create a baseball league in the inner city of the northwest area of Lakeland, and I’m trying to create a baseball league or team,” Zanders said.
The last time there was a successful youth baseball program in Lakeland was in the early 1970s thanks to Tack Freeman, a city employee who started the program.
In order to make another youth baseball program, aside from funds, Zanders said he needs sponsors, as well as support from Lakeland.
Right now, Zanders is proposing to use Simpson Park, which is located near Lakeland Regional Hospital and Bryant Stadium. But there are no benches, a scoreboard or concessions.
“I’m fighting against a giant right now, and I just need the city to support this opportunity that we have,” Zanders said. “Kids here in Lakeland really haven’t played baseball like that in the inner city because all the parks are far away for them to even get to the parks. Parents don’t want to drive that far, I see. So, I’m trying to do it within the community of Lakeland. I’m just trying to start a league where the inner-city kids are competitive in.”
Zanders said youth baseball is also needed because youth football is finished in early December and there is too much of a gap that lasts to June when the sport starts back up again.
Zanders' love of baseball
The love of baseball started for Zanders because his father, Eugene, played in the minor league system for the Atlanta Black Crackers.
When done playing, Zanders and his father listened to the Atlanta Braves on the radio, and the father and son journeyed to Georgia to watch Hank Aaron hit his then-record-breaking 715th homer on April 8, 1974, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
He would go on to collect bats at Florida Southern baseball games in the 1970s and use the bats to play games of his own with friends.
According to Zanders, he did play in Freeman’s league on an all-African-American team. But when it was time to play with the older kids, he wasn’t chosen because he is Black.
Fast-forward a couple years: Zanders chose to play football for Kathleen, where he graduated in 1978.
While the love for baseball was still there, he went on to coach for the Lakeland Patriots, a youth football team, in the late-1990s. Zanders also created the Lakeland Cardinals, which is no longer in existence today.
Zanders moved away from Lakeland in 1999 to Atlanta, where he would become an assistant athletic director and football coach at Atlanta Sports City Prep.
He returned in April 2021 and is now trying to spark passion for Lakeland youth baseball.
“This is a lifetime plan. I’m committed to this 100%,” Zanders said. “Kids down here want to play baseball. I’m getting a lot of interest from parents. This program will create other opportunities for our youth in the community."
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland's Donald Zanders hopes to create youth baseball program