Santa Paula Little League opens 2012 season
March 14, 2012
Sports
The Santa Paula Little League held opening ceremonies Saturday, kicking off another season of baseball.
Santa Paula Chevrolet presented the Santa Paula Little League with a check for $1,000 and also delivered many boxes of equipment for the League.
The 2012 season was dedicated to Phil Rodriquez for his years of service to the League. Rodriguez was the Umpire in Chief in 2011, but has been volunteering as an umpire for many, many years. His dedication to the youth of Santa Paula was honored Saturday when he was named the 2012 season Dedication Recipient. He threw out the first pitch of the Season to Majors player Nathan Rabago. Brian Glenn, League President, presented Rodriguez with the Award.
Kelsey Stewart was named as the Volunteer of the Year for 2012. She has been a SPLL Board Member for the last five years and holds the title of Information Officer for the League. Kelsey is responsible for the SPLL website, the Facebook page and she organizes as well as prints the yearly player book. She reports the weekly games to the Santa Paula Times. Stewart is also an avid volunteer for Isbell Middle School, Bedell Elementary School and has been a Den Leader for Boy Scouts of America for over 6 years. She was joined on the field by her family and honored them during her acceptance speech.
The In Memoriam Recipient for SPLL 2012 season was Gil Navarro. Mrs. Pat Navarro and son Don were in attendance to recieve the In Memoriam Award for Navarro.
He was an educator who taught art and physical education. He coached all sports for 37 years at Isbell Middle School and while there he implemented both girls and boys basketball, flag football and track. Gill was known for running the Annual Turkey Trot Races at the school, with the winners receiving Thanksgiving turkeys.
During his years at Isbell, he created and directed the first Junior High School Boys Basketball Tournament, known as The Lettermans Tournament, which became the largest tournament of its kind in Ventura County. Gil’s other coaching included the creation of Santa Paula Tigerettes, an AAU girls track and field team which competed all over California and Arizona.
He also coached the Santa Paula High School Girls basketball and softball teams and he coached the St. Bonaventure baseball teams, taking them three times to CIF.
For many years he was involved with the Senior League at the Little League, helping the players who wanted to play for the League after entering High School.
Active with the Boys and Girls Club his contributions included activities in sports, art and he even painted the Club building himself.
Navarro received many awards and acknowledgements, including multiple Isbell Teacher of the Year and Coach of the Year, as well as the Mexican-American Award for his dedication and education of the youth of Santa Paula. Navarro retired from teaching and coaching in 1999.
Navarro passed away this past Thanksgiving, but what he left behind is a long legacy of teaching, encouraging and guiding many generations of youth here in Santa Paula to be the best they can possibly be.
Mercer Prieto VFW Post was also at the opening, as they always are, to present the American Flag for the Opening Ceremonies. The National Anthem was sung by Lauren Lum.
The League asked the public for the support of renaming the All Purpose Field in honor of Tony Vasquez. The City Council will consider the issue March 19.
