SAN FERNANDO : Officials Salute Baseball Champs

Representatives of several community leaders joined the City Council and Chamber of Commerce of San Fernando in honoring the San Fernando National Little League All-Stars for capturing sectional and divisional titles this year, the first such championships the league has won since its inception in 1948.

San Fernando Mayor pro tem Raymond Ojeda and San Fernando Chamber of Commerce President Joe Sandoval were on hand at the Odyssey Restaurant in Granada Hills on Wednesday as the 14 Little Leaguers, all 14 to 15 years old, received certificates of appreciation from representatives of Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon, state Sen. David A. Roberti, Assemblyman Richard Katz and U.S. Rep. Howard Berman.

Also honored were the 13-year-old All-Stars, who were eliminated during the sectional playoffs.

“You hear so much negative stuff about youth,” Ojeda said. “It’s crucial that we emphasize how we appreciate what these kids have done.”

The senior team’s success came despite the fact that there hasn’t been a home field for the last 10 years.

Since the field at San Fernando Park was lost when much of the site was sold to be used as an industrial park, players have practiced at San Fernando High School, Brand Park and anywhere else they could find a backstop.