Saturday, March 3, was opening day for baseball all around Long Beach. Boys and girls of all ages got dressed up in their baseball uniforms to celebrate the big day. They paraded on their baseball fields, it’s an exciting day for everyone. The big day was made even more special when a team from The Los Altos Youth Baseball League, coached by Mike Ruggio, visited the Veterans Hospital. The Major Dodger baseball players included Chandler Buck-Thomas, Will Campuzano, Kevin Higgins, Xavier Lavelle, Ian McBride, Bryce Miller, Kyle O’Connell, and Dominic Ruggio. Coach Mike had contacted the Administration Department, and made arrangements for the visit.
The boys went room-to-room, ward-by-ward, with a new baseball in hand. At each stop, they had the true American heroes sign their baseballs. Some were from World War II; some from Korea; many from Vietnam; and even some from Iraq. They visited the Acute Spinal Cord Injury and Head Trauma Units. It’s hard to say whose smiles were bigger, the boys or the Veterans. This day will be remembered for many years to come, and was truly a growing experience for this group of Little Leaguers. At a time of such uncertainty around the world, once again, baseball allows us those special hours of Americana. Thank you Los Altos Youth Baseball, and to all our Veterans, Service Men and Women around the world. God Bless you.