Milwaukee’s south side now home to Major League-quality baseball field

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Milwaukee’s south side is now home to a Major League-quality baseball field.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony at Baran Park Thursday ushered in the new era for the Felix Mantilla Little League.

The $400,000 field was paid for with a grant awarded to Journey House, a non-profit organization that helps thousands of families, by Major League Baseball and Scotts.

Journey House beat out hundreds of other applicants.

The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Lisette Contreras, a 13-year-old who plays in the league.

She said she enjoys showing people that girls can play baseball too.

“All these kids look at her as a leader,” said Guerrero Duran, Contreras’s coach. “She's a tough cookie. Nobody better than her to throw that first pitch."

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was at the ceremony, along with the league’s namesake, Felix Mantilla.