Local Pony League kicks off season at Los Amigos
By CHIARA CANZI Special to the Daily Press
LOS AMIGOS PARK Yolanda DeCordova held her breath for the duration of the pledge of allegiance. Her son Erik DeCordova-Esparza spoke clearly, standing tall in front of the crowd and his teammates. It was a special occasion for mother and son. Saturday marked the 50th anniversary of the Santa Monica Pony League.
For 50 years, baseball enthusiasts, fanatics and fans made Los Amigos Park a familiar place. DeCordova has spent many seasons cheering her son and his team. Baseball has been a family love affair. Her father, Norman DeCordova played at Los Amigos from 1954 to 1958.
“He was always so good at it,” DeCordova said looking at faded newspaper articles her grandmother kept for posterity. “Baseball was probably the only thing he was really good at.”
Her father never excelled in school, but loved baseball so much it became his passion. It was Aug. 17, 1957 in Salt Lake City when the Santa Monica Comets won the championship of Western Boys Baseball by defeating Woodland Hills of California, 3-2.
“Norm DeCordova started on the mound for Santa Monica and gave up two hits and two runs in the first inning, but then blanked the opposition for two more,” wrote Bill Coltrin, Salt Lake Tribune Sports Writer.
“My grandmother always made sure that he was a part of something, and that was that he played baseball,” said DeCordova.“I know this was his life and if he were here this would have been a really big event for him.”
Saturday’s ceremony coincided with Norman DeCordova’s 66th birthday, if he were alive. The celebration focused on the memory of those who started the league and those who keep the league going. Santa Monica Poly League official Steve Dennis welcomed the crowd and introduced a special guest.
“This man became president of the league when he was only 17 years old, and that’s how much he loves baseball,” he said over the loudspeakers. Fabian Padilla walked into cen-terfield and accepted the recognition.
“I have to thank everyone who helped me when I was young,” Padilla said. “I can still remember Chris Lopez in 1972 he hit a grand slam in the World Series right out of this very park.”
Padilla had wise words for the dozen teams of youngsters that sat and listened. He thanked the volunteers who make every young Mike Piazza’s dreams possible.
“You know guys, the way we get paid is through you,” he said. “When you tell us, ‘Thank you coach’ that just paid that coach for all the hard work and dedication.”
While “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” played, Padilla threw the first pitch. This year the league has the highest number of players in its history, 250. But the Santa Monica Pony League’s officials want their players to excel in school, and not only on the diamond. Saturday, 13 players were honored for their academic achievements with the Mike Tenet scholarship.
For DeCordova-Esparza baseball is the only way to connect with his grandfather. Norman died when Erik was only 5 years old.
“I just want to be like my grandfather,” said DeCordova-Esparza. “I want to be a professional baseball player.”
Yolanda smiles and puts her arms around her son. “ My mother made sure that even all my brothers played baseball here,” she said. “It’s like my second family.”
For more information and games’ schedules please visit the Santa Monica Pony League at www.smpony.org.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 3, 2008. Read the original PDF.