Long Ball President Pat James, red, with staff and supporters at opening night.

Seventeen years ago, Hillside High baseball coach Tony Leak was a man with a plan .

Long story short, and one I’ve written about many times, Leak met the president of Minor League Baseball to discuss Durham being a test city for a new inner-city baseball program.

“Send me a proposal,” was the response.

Knowing his limitations on such matters, Leak made a call to someone that changed everything: Patricia Jenkins James.

James, along with volunteers and supporters, had started their own summer baseball league after Durham Parks and Recreation abruptly canceled its league for ages 13 and up. The city had a league for 6- to 8-year-olds and 9- to 12-year-olds through the Durham Bulls Youth Athletic League.

James was inspired to do something after her then 16-year-old son, who played baseball, asked her, “What am I going to do all summer?”

Then came Leak’s call. James submitted the proposal, and the rest is history. Longball Durham was born in 2009.

The league runs May through July at the Historic Durham Athletic Park in downtown. It's split into two divisions: a junior division for ages 13 to 15, and a senior division for ages 16 to 19. The staff is all volunteer.

Players have to keep their grades up and school attendance solid to participate.

These 17 years certainly haven’t been a bed of roses. “Every year I think this is going to be the last year,” James told me 10 years ago.

But just when things seemed their bleakest, an unexpected check arrived, a business donated free equipment and supplies, new volunteer coaches signed up, and another summer was saved.

After Minor League Baseball gave up ownership of the DAP and moved out of Durham, Longball became Long Ball Program – Durham Triple Play after Duke students assisted to make it a 501©3 organization, which brought in more sponsors.

Hendricks Southpoint Auto Mall is the program’s longest supporter. Duke baseball has been involved almost since the beginning.

Stephen Turpin, vice president and general manager of AISIN in Durham, provides scholarships for high school graduates and a paid summer internship annually.

The Durham Sports Club became a sponsor a few years ago. Despite not being a member, James’ application was so impressive, a club member offered to sponsor the league.

The Long Ball Program – Durham Triple Play is now under the umbrella of Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities. RBI is a program founded by Major League Baseball that seeks to increase minority participation in the sport. Players also have more opportunities for scholarships and life skills training.

And let’s not forget, there is baseball being played. Both the junior and senior divisions are the reigning Mid-Atlantic Regional champions.

Long Ball, which has won numerous awards and accolades, has always been dear to me because the diverse league you see today looks nothing like the league when it first began. It was all Black and Hispanic young men that society would rather discard than help.

James says this year is her last. She’s said it before and always got talked into “one more year.”

“It’s time,” she said with certainty.

If so, what a legacy to leave for the next generation.

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