NHBA makes special dedication to Cornwells

There were tears mixed with laughter as the Newport Harbor Baseball Assn. celebrated and honored the late Zach Cornwell and his family during its Opening Day at Mariners Park in Newport Beach on Saturday.

Fred Cornwell, a former NHBA president who also coached in the PONY Division league, and his family were surprised with extraordinary gifts. The NHBA Bronco (12 year-old division) field was named Cornwell Field.

Also, there was a plaque dedicated in Zach’s memory that will be in the bullpen near the Bronco field.

In addition, a park bench next to the bleachers at Cornwell Field was dedicated to the Cornwell family.

“It really is special,” said Fred Cornwell, a former USC football and NFL tight end. “I didn’t know what was going to happen today. I was told by Jim Stowell to come. He was tight-lipped about everything. They went above and beyond anything I could’ve imagined.”

The plaque featured a special Zach Cornwell emblem that was also used on hats that many people wore on Saturday. It’s a type of badge similar to the Superman logo, only there is a “Z” in the middle. “Z” was one of a few nicknames they used for the gentle giant/man-child who was 6-foot-2, 210 pounds when he was 10 years old.

Zach’s death in April rocked the Newport Beach community, including many families affiliated with the NHBA and its past. Zach was only 20 and improving as an offensive lineman in football at Orange Coast College when he died of Evans Syndrome, a rare autoimmune blood disorder that had attacked his red blood cells.

“We all love Zach,” said Lantz Bell, a former NHBA president who spoke during the dedication ceremony. “We are celebrating Zach’s life. We have cried and we have mourned. Now we’re going to celebrate.”

Bell couldn’t hold back his emotion when he said that Zach was a gift to his family. Bell also held a special framed photo that showed Zach’s 400-foot home run in Dana Point when he was 12. NHBA players looked at the photo with amazement while Pat Cox, Zach’s former coach, talked about the huge hit.

“I saw Zach hit that home run,” said Mary Cornwell, Zach’s mother. “He was larger than life both physically and with his personality. It was nice to hear that tribute.”

Mary Cornwell also said it was meaningful that families from when Zach played showed up to the dedication ceremony. Fred Cornwell also surprised his wife, as he had their oldest son, Hayden, fly in from Boston, where he attends MIT.

“I was overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support,” Mary Cornwell said of the NHBA. “I’ve always known that it was a very tight group. They really love each other.”

Bell and current NHBA president Sean Pence described the NHBA as a strong community. There’s a great sense of family, Pence said.

The league is a great place to play baseball and learn about the game, he said.

The children will now play on Cornwell Field.