This player celebrated the joy of the opening season.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
It was good to be back with friends after the Fire destroyed the community.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
In the 24 years that this editor has either had a child playing or has covered the Pacific Palisades Baseball Association’s opening day, this was the most bittersweet and emotional.
PPBA Commissioner Bob Benton during the opening ceremonies and pancake breakfast at Cheviot Hills Rec Center on March1 held back tears and took a minute before speaking, “This means so much to parents and kids, who have lost homes and schools. It means so much that you came back.”
Annually the season starts with the Pancake Breakfast, called the second-best day in the Palisades (after the 4th of July).
Youth ages 6 to 14 had just been invited to try out for teams for the 71st season, when the Palisades Fire on January 7, 8 and 9, destroyed homes, commercial buildings, schools and damaged the Recreation Center where games are played.
Long-time umpire Dirk Robinson was on hand to start the season.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
Would there even be a baseball league this year and where could it be held?
Of the 450 kids registered, 300 are participating in four Shetland teams (ages 6-7), five Pinto teams (ages 7-8), seven Mustang teams (ages 9-10), six Bronco teams (ages 11-12) and two Pony teams (ages 13-14).
Generally, a team mom(s) organizes the pancake breakfast, but after the fire the two women in charge moved out of state, and PPBA Rookie Board Member Karl House, got the nod from the bull pen.
“The hardest thing was getting up at 4 a.m. to meet the vendors,” said House, an Alphabet Street resident who still has a house standing, but that needs remediation.
He added that another problem planning the breakfast was “estimating turnout to make sure we had enough tables and food.” In addition to “pancake mom” he is also coaching the Mustang Orioles and his younger son. His older son is a Pony this year.
PPBA mom Jessica Sklar, who lost their home on the Via de las Olas Bluffs said they had stayed in six different motels since the fire. Today was going to be different because the family had finally found a house in the Cheviot Hills area, and they could stop moving around. It also meant her son, Luke, an Oriole Bronco, would be closer to these fields.
Luke said he liked Cheviot because, “It’s going to be easier to steal.”
And here’s a warning to his opponents, “I intend to steal a lot,” Luke said.
This editor checked in with a table of Broncos eating pancakes and asked for predictions about who would win the World Series this year. Lucas and Sam (both Tigers) predicted it would be their team. “Red Sox” Kellen said, and Hudson was clear that it would be the “Cardinals.”
Bryan Whalen, who works on scheduling and the PPBA website and coaching, said “We needed to give the kids something to look forward to.”
As he looked around, he said, “I’m seeing people I haven’t seen in two months.
“It’s the first anchoring event we’ve (Palisadians) had,” Whalen said. “People can come here every Saturday for the next months and see their neighbors and friends.”
Coach Bryan Whalen, PPBA Commissioner Bob Benton (center) and Regan Whalen at the opening ceremonies. Reagan sang the National Anthem.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
Matt Skiba, who is the coach for the Shetland Phoenix team, is coaching his daughter Reagan. His mother-in-law lost her Highlands home of 47 years. But today for his players he wants them to “have fun, be a good sport and maybe learn some fundamentals of the game.”
Cheviot Hills Coach Tyson Beem, whose Mariners were set to play the Palisades Red Sox at 9 a.m., pointed out that the kids know each other from schools. Many in the Cheviot Hills area attend Paul Revere Middle School and “this is the first time they’ll get to play ball together.”
Former Bronco Red Sox, Regan Whalen, who is now a freshman at Pacifica Christian, sang a beautiful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” to open the ceremonies.
Ryan Ogulnick, the president of the Cheviot Baseball Little League welcomed the joint community. “What a special season this is going to be for our community and our players. While the circumstances that brought us together are undeniably difficult, I believe we can all take a lesson in resilience from our kids. They show us every day that the simple joys – like being friends and playing the game that they love is what truly matters. Life may throw us curveballs, but for our children, family, friends and baseball.”
“We’re glad to be a sponsor to this special season,” said Vicki Curry, Fox VP of Community Affairs.
Katy Yaroslavsky, Councilmember District 5, said “I grew up in the Palisades and I was to only girl in the PPBA league. It’s an honor to welcome you like you did to a kid more than 30 years ago.
“Palisades Rec Center will always have a place in my heart,” she said. “This is awesome.”
Councilmember Traci Park through out the first pitch.
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
Traci Park, before throwing out the first pitch said, “nothing fixes a broken heart like a good game of baseball.
“Everyone over night was scattered. I’ve been looking for a way to connect with people,” she said. “These events are going to keep the community together. We are all coming back to the Palisades.
“I’m here for you,” she said. “Let’s play ball.”
The season will run through Memorial Day.
And then . . ..it was batter up!
Photo: RICH SCHMITT
Makes me so happy to see this!
❤️⚾️❤️⚾️❤️