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Belen Today
By the People, for the People
Belen Little League Opening Day Celebrates Community Spirit
Former UNM baseball coach Ray Birmingham emphasizes the importance of America's pastime in bringing people together.
Mar. 22, 2026 at 4:50am
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In Belen, New Mexico, the opening day of Little League was celebrated with a parade, food, and community spirit. Former UNM baseball coach Ray Birmingham, who has spent decades in college baseball, cherishes Little League for its ability to bring a town together. Little League coach Michele Todd, who is from California, says the league has become like family to her. The event captures the essence of small-town Americana, with Birmingham stating that "community and Americana need to come back, and I'm helping nurture that."
Why it matters
Little League baseball is a cherished tradition that helps foster a sense of community and belonging, especially in smaller towns like Belen. The opening day celebration showcases how the sport can bring people together and celebrate shared values of family, tradition, and American pastimes.
The details
The Little League opening day in Belen featured a parade with music and cheers for the different teams, like the Dodgers and Angels. There were also hot dogs, hamburgers, and opportunities for the community to socialize. Former UNM baseball coach Ray Birmingham, who has spent decades in college baseball, believes that Little League is "the best thing that could happen to your community" because of its ability to bring people together. Little League coach Michele Todd, who is from California, says the league has become like family to her, even though she doesn't have blood relatives in the area.
- The Little League opening day celebration took place on a warm spring day in Belen, New Mexico.
The players
Ray Birmingham
A former UNM baseball coach who has spent decades in college baseball and now cherishes Little League for its community spirit.
Michele Todd
A Little League coach in Belen, New Mexico who is originally from California but has found a sense of family through the league.
What they’re saying
“They're gonna have hot dogs and hamburgers and socialize with each other. It's America, baby! That's what it's supposed to be.”
— Ray Birmingham, Former UNM baseball coach
“This is what a town should do to start Little League, because Little League is the best thing that could happen to your community.”
— Ray Birmingham, Former UNM baseball coach
“I'm from California, and I don't have family here, but I've made family here through Little League. They may as well be blood family.”
— Michele Todd, Little League coach
The takeaway
The Little League opening day celebration in Belen, New Mexico showcases how the sport can bring a community together and foster a sense of shared values and tradition. Even for those who are new to the area, like coach Michele Todd, Little League can provide a sense of family and belonging that is essential to the fabric of small-town life.
