Sylmar Delays Games in Wake of Player’s Death

Sylmar High has postponed two baseball games this week following the death of senior outfielder Ryan Vela, who died in a car accident last Saturday morning.

Sylmar was scheduled to play Monroe on Monday and Wednesday. The Valley Pac-8 Conference games have not been rescheduled, but the teams could play as soon as Friday, according to Sylmar Coach Gary Donatella.

“I think the sooner we do things and get our mind off it, the better,” Donatella said.

Donatella met with his players throughout the day Monday, starting with sessions in the morning with school psychologists. The Los Angeles Unified School District dispatched a support team to counsel players and students who grieved Vela’s loss.

After a brief team meeting in the afternoon, Donatella canceled practice.

“It’s been pretty tough here,” he said. “Everyone in the school is aware of what happened. I’m pretty much in the same boat as they are as far as grieving.

“I was in shock Saturday and then met with his parents. That was one of the toughest days in my life.”

Vela, 17, was killed at 1:45 a.m. Saturday after the car in which he was a passenger was struck by a Los Angeles police car, according to police. Teammate Pete Amador, 18, suffered a fractured left scapula and Jose Gomez, 18, suffered head injuries, police said.

The driver of the car, a 17-year-old Sylmar boy, was arrested on suspicion of felony manslaughter and was released to his parents, according to police.

Vela had batted .450 and scored seven runs through the team’s first eight games.