Bridgeport youth baseball program celebrates grand opening of its new East End facility

A Bridgeport youth baseball program celebrated this weekend the opening of its first-ever brick-and-mortar facility.

It's located at 1069 Connecticut Ave. on the East End.

Pedro Gonzalez founded Blue Fish Travel four years ago. He says the Amateur Athletic Union Travel Baseball Program has grown from three to nine teams.

Gonzalez says he grew up in Bridgeport. He wants the kids who play in his program to aim high in life.

"I know the challenges every kid faces out here in these streets, and without a program like us to give them a home and make them feel like they're appreciated, and to teach them the game of baseball, some of them will love the game of baseball and throw it away and get distracted by peer pressure in the streets. So we're here to fill that void and make sure none of these kids make the wrong choices like I have in my past," Gonzalez says.

He's asking for the public's help to get equipment like a batting cage and other basic equipment for their new space.

If you would like to donate, you can do so at their GoFundMe page .