A Day for the Pintos to Stand Up

A long drive to left field by Aldo Pinto did more than score the go-ahead run in Kennedy High’s 5-4 victory over Poly Wednesday night in the City Section 4-A title game. It capped one of the biggest days in the Pinto household since the family moved from Mexico more than two decades ago.

Just hours before Pinto and his brother, Omar, took the field at Dodger Stadium, their parents, Enrique and Maria, took oaths to become United States citizens.

That night, Enrique and Maria, along with their six other children, watched the Golden Cougars win their second consecutive City title.

“It was a big day for all of us,” said Aldo, Kennedy’s third baseman. “Winning at Dodger Stadium might be a little more meaningful, but just because it meant the end of my high school career.”

The celebrating isn’t over yet. Three sisters, Carmen, Rocio and Lourdes, will take their oaths today, making all 10 Pintos U.S. citizens.

The Pintos’ journey toward citizenship was a long one. Enrique and Maria took the required test more than a year ago but, due to paperwork delays, couldn’t be sworn in as citizens until this week.

The City Section title game was originally scheduled for Thursday, falling between the two ceremonies. But the game was moved up a day two weeks ago, giving both Omar and Aldo quite a bit to think about.

“It actually worked out a little better, having so much on one day,” said Omar, a part-time starter at first base. “I thought about my parents when I was at school [Wednesday] and was happy for them then. Then I was able to focus on the game.”

Omar Pinto began the game on the bench, but was called upon to pinch-hit for Mike Ramirez in the fifth inning with one out, two runners on base, and Kennedy trailing, 3-1.

On the second pitch, Omar hit a sharp line drive to the outfield. But the ball was hit directly at Poly right fielder Adrian Perez, who made the catch.

After a single by Fernando Centeno scored a run, Aldo hit reliever Jerry Heredia’s first pitch to the base of the left-field wall for a two-run double, putting the Golden Cougars ahead to stay, 4-3.

“When I hit it, I thought it had a chance to go out,” Aldo said. “I was remembering what happened last year. It still turned out to be a big hit.”

In the 1995 title game, Kennedy’s only runs came on a three-run home run by catcher Kevin Serr in nearly the identical spot along the outfield wall.

“I knew he was going to come through because Aldo has a lot of heart,” Omar said. “When the ball was in midair everybody jumped out of the dugout because we all knew that was the hit.”

It was only appropriate Aldo’s blast would highlight Kennedy’s comeback from a 3-0 deficit. For the past two years, Aldo has been Kennedy’s most-consistent player and a team leader.

Last season, Pinto was the only underclassman to serve as team captain and was an immediate presence on the field, grabbing every ground ball between the third base line and shortstop David Soto.

“He’s the best defensive third baseman around,” Kennedy Coach Manny Alvarado said. “He gobbles everything up. He had a couple of errors but they were all throwing errors.”

But Aldo Pinto won Alvarado’s trust at the plate as well. On a team full of batters capable of hitting for average and power, the 5-foot-8 Pinto was penciled in as the cleanup hitter at the early stages of this season.

“He doesn’t strike out a lot. He’s always making contact, putting the ball in play,” Alvarado said.

After entering Northwest Valley Conference play just over the .300 mark, Pinto steadily improved, finishing with a .396 average and a team-high 34 runs batted in. More important, he earned a partial baseball scholarship to UCLA.

Omar, 16, skipped a grade of elementary school and will graduate with Aldo on June 20. He has been admitted to UCLA and will try to make the Bruin baseball team as a walk-on.

Sounds as if there may be more big days ahead for the Pintos.