La Verne Little League Opener: Players March, World Series Champs Honored, Baseball Prayer Given

The 1999 La Verne All Star Team that played in the Junior Little League World Series in Taylor, Mich.

Although the players have been in action for a couple of weeks, the La Verne Little League officially kicked off the season on Saturday, March 19 with a fun and full day of festivities, including a complete slate of games. Not even darker-than-coal storm clouds could dampen this first-class show.

About 9 a.m., a parade of players and coaches and a crowd of camera-clicking moms and dads left Kuns Park and marched up Park Avenue to Pelota Field. After taking their places on the apron of the infield, each team from every division was introduced, the players and coaches doffing their caps in proud acknowledgement.

As part of the fanfare, the League honored the 1999 Junior Little League Team from La Verne that played in the Little League World Series in Taylor Mich. Comprising that team were players Alex Beck, Ryan Bennett, Brandon Browner, Marcus Hinojosa, Michael Jacobellis, Michael Kessler, Nathan Logan, Neil Nakai, Travis Novak, Zak Ols, Jacob Peitch, Mark Reed and J.R. Stewart. Coaches were Mike Jacobellis, Sr., Brad Kessler and Dennie Reed.

Jacobellis recalled his first meeting with the players, telling them that “the more you sweat on the practice field, the more opportunity you’re going to have on the playing field.” The players got the message because they won district, sectional, divisional and regional playoffs to reach Taylor, where they eventually finished in third place. More amazing was that the team lost its first game before reeling off 20 straight wins to reach the World Series.

“In order for a flower to bloom it’s got to go through some dirt,” Jacobellis, now a retired Los Angeles Police officer, told the team.

On Saturday, the players were honored not so much for their World Series run a dozen years ago but for their roles today as outstanding parents, business people and members of the community. In fact, only one player, Mark Reed, from the 1999 World Series team is playing professional baseball today.

“A lot of character is built playing baseball on this field,” Jacobellis told the audience. “I think I’m standing on perhaps the best real estate property in the city of La Verne.”

In the past, the League had featured illustrious, opening-day speakers such as Tommy Lasorda and Kenny Landreaux from the Los Angeles Dodgers, but this year’s Little President Brian Shively wanted to send a different message to the current players and their parents.

“To me, my heroes aren’t the guys who played professional baseball, as much as I like them,” Shively said. “It’s these guys right here that were born and raised in this area, who grew up here, who played Little League on these exact fields, went all the way to the World Series, and are now doing wonderful things outside the world of baseball.”

The Angels will be tough to beat!

After the speeches were over, it was time to grab some food provided by the vendors, including The Corner Butcher Shop, groom the playing fields and play ball. It was time for new stars to start building their Little League legacies!

Below is the opening-day prayer that Pastor Jim Sharn delivered as a blessing to the players and as a code of conduct for them to follow as they go through the season:

Little League Opening Day Prayer
3-19-11

Our Father in heaven, thank You for this opening day of La Verne Little League. I thank You for all the people who have volunteered and worked together to make this such a great day.

Perhaps some people wonder why we come and pray to You about a new season of Little League Baseball. Well … clearly what You care about most is relationships, and we certainly have the opportunity for great relationships in coming together as a community like this.

In Your Word, the Bible, You give us the keys to having the best possible relationship with You and others. We find that in the 10 Commandments. The first four are about our relationship with You and the other six are about our relationships with others. Help us see the connection between these commands and our actions in baseball.

Your first command is, “Have no other God’s before Me.” It is so easy for us to give top priority to things that just aren’t that important. Help us to keep baseball in proper perspective, not letting it take first place before our devotion to You.

The second command is, “Don’t make and worship any idols.” We admit that it is also easy to idolize things and focus our attention on them … which is worship. It can be our ballparks, or a professional baseball player, or some special sports memorabilia. Help us to appreciate and respect these places, people and possessions … but not idolize them.

Next is, “Do not misuse God’s name.” I know I have heard Your name used around these ball fields in ways that didn’t honor You, so help us realize when we are about to misuse Your name to make adjustments and say what we’re feeling another way.

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” The Sabbath day comes every seventh day. This makes me think of the 7th inning. Whenever we get to a seventh inning, remind us to set apart a day to focus on how important You are to our lives.

“Honor your father and mother.” That is a perfect one for all these young players. May they be grateful for all the time their parents bring them to practice and come to watch their games and buy them equipment!

“You shall not kill.” Oh no! How many times have we talked about killing the other team? I pray that we would not talk like that but instead emphasize the “mercy rule” when there is a big difference in the score.

“Do not commit adultery.” This one doesn’t yet apply to our children, but may the moms and dads keep their eyes and attention on the baseball game! And may there not be other games going on off the field!  Enough said on that point.

“You shall not steal.” Wow! This is a tough one. What are we thinking? Every time our child steals a base we give them applause and encourage them to do it again. Help our children to understand the difference between the strategy of the game and real life.

“Don’t lie.” We all know how easy it is to make stuff up to explain why we are late to practice or a game. When the temptation comes, help us to be more concerned most about our character in Your sight.

“Don’t covet anything that belongs to your neighbor.” We see the equipment other’s have, and we see the players on the other teams and their manager, or their team snack … and we wonder what it would be like to have what they have, but help us to be content with what team we are on and work together to make this the best season it can be.

I especially want to think for a moment about our neighbors in Japan and the difficult circumstances they are facing right now. This is a nation that loves baseball and always is well represented in the Little League World Series. Right now they aren’t even able to play baseball and the priority of surviving through the tragedy gives us a fresh perspective on what is most important … not the game … but the people.

Thank You again for all the people who are here. May this truly be a great season for every one … especially as we make and deepen friendships! Winning is fun, but getting along with You and our neighbor is what really counts. I pray these things acknowledging that Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

The Dodgers before they start their walk up Park Avenue.

It was a sea of players and parents making the march up Park.

The Corner Butcher Shop, as usual, was smoking up a great lunch for everybody.

It was a banner day for the 1999 World Series team from La Verne.

It was a star-spangled day as well.

Youth ruled the day, including the singer.

Pastor Jim Sharn, whose La Verne Community Church meets each Sunday at 10 a.m. at Oak Mesa Elementary School, 5200 Wheeler Ave. in La Verne.

Anthony Cascarano read the Little League pledge.

Members of the 11-year-old all star team.

Mayor Don Kendrick talked about the start of Little League in La Verne in 1954 at Roynon Elementary.

1999 La Verne Little League Manager Mike Jacobellis.

1999 Players Ryan Bennett and Marcus Hinojosa with 2011 Little League President Brian Shively.

Brian Shively and Alex Beck.

Players Nathan Logan and Mark Kessler.

Players J.R. Stewart and Michael Jacobellis.

Player Zak Ols.

Manager Mike Jacobellis throws out the ceremonial first pitch to A.J. Woodall.

And then the new up-and-coming stars took the mound ...