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Lady Tigers in the Concrete Jungle: How Softball and Sisterhood Saved Lives in the South Bronx

By (author) Dibs Baer

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Violence was a way of life forÂ theÂ girls of Mott Middle SchoolÂ inÂ theÂ South Bronx. Some woke up to it at home, and others dodged it onÂ theÂ way to school. Vicious physical fights broke outÂ inÂ classrooms, hallways, andÂ bathrooms.Â These girls filedÂ their fingernailsÂ into sharp points becauseÂ they had to be ready to go at any time.Â Then a new coach joinedÂ theÂ ranks at Mott Middle, and a new program began: girl's softball.Â Â Coach Astacio offersÂ theÂ girlsÂ theÂ time and attentionÂ they need to takeÂ their first steps to success.Â AsÂ they learned to throw, hit and field,Â they also dealt withÂ theÂ foul balls life threw atÂ them: abuse, fractured homes, and violence wherever they looked.Â ButÂ theÂ biggest challengeÂ they faced was learning to think and act like a team, not just a bunch of fierce girls against each otherâ€”andÂ theÂ world.Â Lady Tigers in the Concrete JungleÂ is theÂ incredible true story that capturedÂ theÂ hearts of millions whenÂ they wereÂ invited to appear on Ellen earlier this year.Â TheÂ LadyÂ TigersÂ wereÂ invited ontoÂ theÂ field at Yankee Stadium whereÂ the Yankees honored Coach Astacio with â€œCoach of the Yearâ€ at their Hispanic Heritage Month Community Achievement Awards in September 2017. But beyond the headlines, this is a story of a self-selected community coming together with faith, courage, and new-found values to overcome fear, violence, and crippling doubt. These girls have ushered in a new confidence and pride not only in themselves, but in their school, the faculty, and their friends. And while not all of them have continued down this new path, many are now the first in their families to go to college and are beginning to see how being a Lady Tiger will always be a part of their lives.