NATCHEZ — While T.M. Jennings Little League coach Jerome Timmons Jr., teaches his youngsters hitting and fielding, he is also teaching them responsibility and community.

Timmons has a unique requirement of his 5- and 6-year-old Project DREAM tee ball team and his 7- and 8-year-old coaches pitch team DREAM. He requires them to do community service.

“I just think kids need to learn early to give back to the community,” he said. “In efforts to teach them and make them more responsible, we have the go out and pick up trash and give back to the community.”

Timmons said since his players are at such a young age, the number of projects they can work on is limited, but the children enjoy the garbage clean-up work.

“They actually enjoy it,” he said. “They compete to see who can pick up the most trash.”

Timmons said his teams have had two community service days this season, the most recent being June 18 at the Natchez Youth Center.

When the teams are on the field Timmons said they are both winning about half of their games.

“We’ve had a pretty sub-par season, a lot of kids just moved up from tee ball and are young and not used to coaches pitch. Most are coming back next year so we should be pretty good,” he said.

Timmons said the playoffs are coming up, and he thinks his teams will have a chance.

“In the playoffs if we hit, and play to our potential we should be able to win a championship,” he said.

Timmons does not focus entirely on baseball when the players are on the field.

“We try to teach them sportsmanship, and teach them to show class when playing baseball.”

Project DREAM is a non-profit organization that provides and supports activities for the children of Natchez. Timmons is a board member of the organization.

“DREAM is an organization determined to reach and enrich aspiring minds,” he said.

Timmons also coaches his son, 7-year-old Jerome Timmons III. He started coaching when his son started playing at age 4.

He said it is sometimes hard to work with young children, but they are trying to develop the youngsters for their future on the diamond.

“In tee ball we have them as young as 4 years old, and sometimes they have short attention spans,” he said. “We have a group of parents assisting us, and working with them all season trying to get them ready for next season.”

Project DREAM and DREAM had their awards ceremony Friday night at the Broadmoor Community Center. He said the awards are to recognize the players on his teams.