Team Spirit Wins Out

PACOIMA â€”  Despite fears of gang violence, a determined group of parents, teachers and neighborhood activists today will celebrate the start of a new children’s baseball league at David M. Gonzales Park.

“This is a good beginning,� said Francisca Gutierrez, whose 10-year-old son, Jose, woke up at 5 a.m. on Friday because he was so anxious to play ball. “We need to fight to get a safe place for our children. If we are going to be afraid all the time, this isn’t good for us.�

The Sertoma Little League is sponsored by the Pacoima chapter of Sertoma, a nonprofit group whose name is derived from the motto “Service to Mankind.� The grass-roots group has raised about $1,000 for uniforms and equipment for the league’s three teams.

Sam Chaidez, chapter president, said the safety of the 55 or so children, ages 8 through 11, who signed up to play was the first priority for everyone involved. Recent troubles between two local gangs--including three homicides in the area--almost caused organizers to cancel their plans to start the new league.

But the 31-year-old Chaidez said the desire to provide a fun activity for some of the community’s youngest members overcame the hesitation caused by gangsters.

“We aren’t willing to give that park up to the thugs,� said Chaidez, a teacher at Pacoima Elementary School. “In this neighborhood, shootings are going to take place. We need to keep living our lives.�

Lt. Stan Ludwig of the LAPD’s Foothill Division said the baseball league organizers have the right idea. Abandoning the league would have been the same as surrendering their rights, he said.

“The park is there for citizens, it’s not for gangbangers,� Ludwig said.

Chaidez said the league has been the talk of the elementary school, which adjoins the park. When Chaidez walked across the school’s asphalt playground during recess Friday, students tugged his shirt and asked him what time baseball would start after school.

Baseball, he said, is a way to teach the boys and girls teamwork and discipline. Most importantly, it is a way to keep them off the streets and away from local gangs.

Jose, who only recently learned how to use his baseball glove, on Friday was in line to receive his other official baseball apparel.

“What’s this for?� he asked, holding up the athletic cup handed out to all the boys.

Jose lives across the street from the park in the San Fernando Gardens public housing development. His mother said that until the idea for the league came along, she didn’t allow him to play there.

Chaidez, who lived in the housing development as a child and grew up in San Fernando, said he wanted to start the league because he believes playing organized baseball helped to keep him away from gangs and drugs.

As he put his novice players through their paces during a practice on the dirt infield, he said the students’ response was better than he could have hoped.

Eduardo Zaballos, 7, panted on his way around the bases, a cross between a miniature Babe Ruth and a walking bumblebee in his yellow-and-black-striped shirt.

Chaidez said the vast majority of the youngsters had never played baseball before. Few of them even knew how to catch a baseball or swing a bat.

“Two weeks ago on the day of tryouts almost no one knew how to play,� he said. “But I left with a glow in my heart because the park was full of kids and they were all so excited.�

Irma Olvera, whose 11-year-old twin girls signed up for the team, said it is good to see an activity at the park for her girls.

“There has been a lot of killing here,� Olvera said. She was among a group of mothers who sat on towels, ate tostadas and drank orange juice while their children played. Even with the coaches there, the mothers said they felt safer being with their children.

At the end of practice Friday, the young players had one thing on their minds: uniforms.

For nearly every boy and girl on the field, the presentation of uniforms was an exciting event.

Jose said he dreamed about his and thought it would be green. When he pulled the number 28 teal Marlins jersey over his head, he looked down at the shirt and smiled.

“I think I look pretty good,� he said. “Now I’m ready to play baseball.�