More than 300 young athletes with disabilities will compete in Tijuana’s ninth annual adaptive baseball tournament July 10 through 12, a binational event that has grown from a single wheelchair team into one of northern Mexico’s largest inclusion sports gatherings. The three-day tournament at the Liga Infantil y Juvenil Municipal de Tijuana in Otay will feature 24 teams from across Mexico and the United States, hosted by the Gigantes Tijuana, the city’s first adaptive baseball squad.
Hasta la Luna Built Tijuana Disability Baseball Over a Decade
The tournament is organized by Hasta la Luna, a Tijuana civil association founded more than ten years ago by César Sepúlveda. Sepúlveda created Tijuana’s first adaptive baseball team for children and teenagers with disabilities. From that single team, the program expanded into an annual competition that now pulls squads from multiple Mexican states and from U.S. border communities.
“Every year more people and more teams join, more states,” Sepúlveda said at a May 28 press conference. “We hope each year even more come to give these young people the opportunity. It is something we are truly proud of.”
Adaptive baseball modifies the traditional game so players with physical, intellectual, or sensory disabilities can participate. Rules vary by league, but common adaptations include the use of wheelchairs, buddy runners, lighter bats, and tee stands in place of pitched balls. Mexico’s adaptive sports infrastructure remains limited compared to the United States, where Little League Challenger Division programs operate in all 50 states. In Baja California, Hasta la Luna is one of a small number of nonprofits offering year-round adaptive team sports for minors.
Carlos Rodríguez, vice president of the Liga Infantil y Juvenil Municipal de Tijuana, praised the organization’s persistence. “This association keeps making history,” Rodríguez said. “For more than ten years they have been fulfilling the dreams of all these children. As an inclusive league, we welcome kids from Tijuana, from the rest of Mexico, and from abroad.”
The association’s vice president told local media that watching the players’ faces during competition drives the team to keep opening spaces for families. “They feel included in a sport, and seeing their faces says it all,” she said. “The tournament is open to everyone. You don’t need to have a family member with a disability to come.”
June 9 Fundraiser Features Former MLB Player Martín González López
Running a three-day tournament for 300 athletes and their families requires money that Hasta la Luna does not have on hand. The nonprofit relies on community donations to cover lodging, meals, and hydration for visiting teams. To raise funds, the organization is hosting a talk called “El cielo es el límite” (“The Sky Is the Limit”) on June 9 at 2:30 p.m. at Mobil Park, the stadium commonly known as the home of Los Toros de Tijuana.
The featured speaker is Martín González López, a former Major League Baseball player from Guaymas, Sonora. González López played for several MLB organizations before a car accident left him in a wheelchair. His talk will cover the challenges he faced after the accident and how he stayed connected to the sport. All proceeds go directly to the July tournament. Tickets cost 25 pesos (about $1.25 USD).
Hasta la Luna is also seeking sponsors from the broader community. Businesses or individuals who want to contribute can contact the organization through its Facebook page at facebook.com/hastalalunaac2. Sponsorships help cover team travel costs, equipment, and on-site medical support during the three days of play.
Tournament Location and Access in Otay
The Liga Infantil y Juvenil Municipal de Tijuana sits in the Otay district, roughly 15 minutes by car from the Otay Mesa border crossing. Games will run from July 10 through July 12 at the league’s multi-diamond complex. The tournament is free and open to all spectators.
Otay is a major commercial and industrial zone in eastern Tijuana, accessible from both the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry. Visitors crossing at Otay Mesa can reach the baseball fields without navigating central Tijuana traffic. The area includes several hotels along Boulevard Industrial that cater to cross-border travelers.
Sepúlveda and his team are asking anyone in the community, including local government officials, to help expand inclusion sports in Tijuana. The nonprofit operates without permanent government funding and depends entirely on volunteers, ticket sales, and private sponsorships to sustain its programs year-round.
The fundraiser talk at Mobil Park on June 9 is the next scheduled event. The tournament itself begins July 10. Those interested in volunteering, sponsoring a team, or attending can reach Hasta la Luna through its Facebook page. This story was first reported by Punto Norte.