Inspired by coach standing sideline, Baldwin Park All-Star softball team makes run at tournament – ​​San Gabriel Valley Tribune

The Baldwin Park All-Star softball team for children under 14 heads to the JLS West Region Tournament in Arizona this weekend to represent Southern California. (Courtesy)

Reaching the World Series is the goal that Amador Ortega, coach of the Baldwin Park softball team for players 14 and under, strives for every season.

In recent seasons, his plan has been to merge players from two different stadiums and form an All-Star team that would compete in higher-level tournaments.

This year, Ortega planned the season with his friend and coach from another stadium, Alberto Velazquez. According to Velazquez, no one wanted to share the glory.

“Nobody ever wants to merge, you know,” Velazquez said. “Everybody wants the glory and nobody wants to give up the glory, you might say.”

This year, the league presidents, with the help of Velazquez, decided to listen to Ortega and merge two teams into an All-Star team that would compete in high-level tournaments and represent the city of Baldwin Park.

Ortega had to watch from the sidelines as his dreams came true. In October, he suffered a series of strokes that kept him from reaching the World Series.

“(Ortega) was sidelined and is still sidelined in the recovery center, still fighting for his life every day, from what I see,” Velazquez said.

While Ortega recovers, his team continues to fight for him and work together as a team to reach the World Series. After winning the California Junior League State Championship Tournament, Baldwin Park heads to the JLS West Region Tournament in Arizona this weekend to represent Southern California.

Winning the state championship wasn’t easy for Baldwin Park. At the Southern California Junior League State Championship Tournament, Baldwin Park began the chase with a 4-0 shutout of Westchester Del Rey. In their second game, they faced second-place Burbank and lost 7-5.

“Game two, we came to Burbank and I think that loss really made us think, hey, this could be over…” Velazquez said. “…Our journey could end here after this game if we don’t all humble ourselves and just give 100 percent.”

Losing game two put Baldwin Park in the losers bracket, where they needed to win more games to reach the championship. Inspired to honor their manager Ortega, Baldwin Park rallied to win the tournament and move one step closer to reaching the World Series.

“We are on the mountain, but (other teams) don’t have the love and trust that we have for each other, for our families and for Amador Ortega,” Velazquez said.

As they prepare to represent Southern California in the regional tournament, Velazquez reminds his team to stay hungry for more, but to continue to work together as a team.

“We are not selfish,” Velazquez said. “We are willing to give each other everything we have so that we can come out victorious.”

In the lead-up to the regional tournament, the community has come together to help the team raise money for their trip to Tucson. The team’s friends, family, and community have come to their fundraisers and continue to donate to a GoFundMe page set up to help pay for the team’s expenses.