From the Field to the Future
Highlighting a Hero
Coach Michael Rosenband is more than just a winning coach for Carver Vocational-Technical High School’s baseball team- he’s a transformative force in the lives of his players and his community. When he stepped in to lead the Carver baseball team in 2012, he inherited a program struggling to gain a single win. But through his commitment to teaching resilience, discipline, and teamwork, Coach Rosenband led the team to back-to-back city championships, restoring pride and hope to a school that’s Maryland’s oldest trade institution and will now be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025. Coach Mike is a hero because he uses baseball as a bridge to bring opportunity and purpose to his students, far beyond the field.
Meet Coach Mike's Team
Under Coach Mike Rosenband's leadership, the Carver Bears have transformed from a struggling program into a city championship-winning squad. Their determination and commitment were rewarded nearly a decade later in May 2022, when they clinched the city crown. But for Rosenband, or “Coach Mike” as his players call him, the victories on the field are just one part of what makes Carver Baseball extraordinary. Carver Baseball has become a sanctuary for many players, a place where they find guidance, camaraderie, and life lessons that go far beyond the game. “Coach Mike came to us and sat us down,” says former player and Carver graduate Sterling Hardy. “Instead of making excuses, let’s figure out how we can win,’ he said. And we did—Coach helped us get a van so we could practice more regularly and improve as a team.” Hardy adds that overcoming challenges, like finding ways to get to practice when the field was 1.5 miles from campus, taught the team resilience and strength.
Baseball at Carver Vocational
A Second Family
For many players, this environment is life changing. One student recalls that joining Carver Baseball as a lost freshman helped him "keep his energy up" and "made high school feel like home." Now a senior leader, he describes Coach Mike as “one of the best coaches in Baltimore City” and credits the team with teaching him responsibility and providing him opportunities he might not have found elsewhere. Coach Mike emphasizes the importance of understanding his players beyond the field, knowing they may face struggles at home. “You never know what’s going on in a young person’s life,” he says. His focus on building a positive, safe space has fostered strong bonds with his players, many of whom stay connected with the program after graduating. As one player put it, "Honestly, if it wasn’t for Carver Baseball, I probably wouldn’t have gone back to finish school.”
Barriers Impacting Carver's Future
Carver Baseball faces a range of obstacles that impact the team’s ability to grow and train effectively. The team primarily practices and plays at Druid Hill Park Field 5, a public field in which the shared nature makes it challenging for the team to maintain consistency and make progress on the grounds. Additionally, the distance to the field presents logistical challenges, as minutes spent traveling reduces valuable practice time. The biggest issue though, is often weather. The field floods when it rains, making practice impossible. As player Camontae notes, “We missed out on senior night because the field was trashed from the rain- it was my birthday, too.” Without consistent field access, the team must travel to offsite batting cages, which can take a toll on resources- costing up to $120 for two cages every time. “If we had our own batting cage here, it would be way easier,” says Coach Mike. “Right now, we have to load everyone up into two aging vans, from 1993 and 2003, and the costs add up, gas, maintenance, van repairs, everything.” Upgrading or supporting transportation would make a significant difference in reducing logistical hurdles and ensuring the team can reliably access practices, games, and other offsite facilities. Additionally, costs are even higher because meals are often provided for the players due to travel distances.
Fighting for More
To address these limitations, the school is working to convert the Carver basement into a makeshift training space and clubhouse. Camontae shares that developing their own batting cages could save the team “so much money in the long run,” money that could be used to enhance other areas of the program. Transforming the basement would be a sustained asset for Carver, which would decrease transport costs astronomically and give players access to consistent practice space, regardless of outdoor weather conditions or field scheduling conflicts. Basement renovations are the first priority for donations.
Adding to these challenges, the team lacks a HitTrax Machine- a key tool that would allow them to measure batting performance and analyze the data. “In baseball and in business, you can’t manage what you’re not measuring,” Coach Mike says. “A HitTrax could connect performance with practice and really help us track player growth.” Essential equipment and supplies remain an ongoing challenge. Many players struggle to provide their own basic gear like practice and warm-up clothes, and players aren’t provided with many accessories commonly given to sports teams at other schools, like team water bottles. The team also often needs to feed hungry players between games, and Coach Mike points out that “food or restaurant gift cards could make a big difference.” With limited funding, even essentials are often a scramble, leaving Coach Mike and the players searching for ways to make do with what they have.
Meaningful Moments
More Than Just a Team
Support Carver Baseball Today
Monetary Donations
Your generous monetary donations will help transform the Carver team’s training environment, ensuring players have the resources and facilities they need to thrive. Contributions will support the following key upgrades:
- Building batting cages in the Carver basement
- Transforming the Carver basement into a clubhouse for players
- Retractable netting
- Player cubbies
- Purchasing a HitTrax Machine for players
- Funding gas costs and vehicle maintenance for practice transportation
- Providing food for players during long trips and between games
- New team water bottles for players
- Warm up and practice clothes
Non-Monetary Donations & More Ways to Help
Coach Michael Rosenband’s dedication to the Carver Bears baseball team ignited a larger vision- empowering students in West Baltimore to transform their skills into lifelong opportunities. Through the Requity Foundation, which he co-founded in 2020 with former player Sterling Hardy, students gain hands-on experience in trades like carpentry and electrical work, contributing to impactful projects like renovating local homes and building affordable housing. This immersive approach not only builds technical competence but also fosters the three C's: Competence, Connection, and Character, creating pathways to success within the local community. The initiative's impact is evidenced in success stories like those of two students who, after interning with Baltimore Gas and Electric, earned full-time positions there- a testament to the program’s power in opening doors. Check out the Requity website to learn more!
Championed By
Gear 4 Kids
Gear 4 Kids is a community-driven initiative dedicated to supporting youth sports by highlighting local hero coaches and ensuring that teams have the equipment they need to succeed. We focus on bridging the gap for athletes in underfunded areas by connecting coaches who have specific needs with generous donors willing to provide monetary donations for various sports gear. Through our platform, we shine a spotlight on coaches making a difference in their communities while facilitating donations for essential equipment, ensuring that every young athlete has the opportunity to play, grow, and thrive. Here at G4K, we believe a lack of gear should never stop someone from enjoying the sport they love!
Technology 4 Causes
The mission of Technology 4 Causes (T4C) is to support specialized assistance programs and charitable initiatives, expanding their positive impact through the multiplying powers of technology, networking, and collaboration.
The vision of Technology 4 Causes is to operate numerous Mentoring Programs, Technology Assistance Programs, Sports 4 Causes Programs, and Helping Hubs. The combination of these initiatives creates a powerful multiplying effect for all T4C activities powered by a common technology platform and philanthropic infrastructure.