One Last Tip of the Cap : Triumphant Moorpark Little Leaguers to Salute Fallen Colleague

They will be whisked into limousines at the airport and escorted by a police motorcade. Citizens of Moorpark will await their return, standing along High Street and gathering at the local Little League field.

Folks will cheer, horns will blow--as will a few politicians.

As much as they are anticipating the reception, however, the Moorpark Little League Western Regional champions won’t be coming straight home. They will stop in Agoura Hills to visit the grave site of Joel Daniel Burchfield, their inspiration during a run of 20 victories and four tournament championships.

The 12- and 13-year-olds will walk to Burchfield’s grave and sprinkle dirt they scooped from the infield of Howard J. Lamade Stadium, site of the Little League World Series.

“We’re going to thank him for being with us the whole time,” pitcher Aaron Garcia said.

Joel, a popular 11-year-old Moorpark Little Leaguer, drowned on Jan. 31 after falling into a rain-swollen drainage canal. The community rallied around his family after the tragedy and the player’s unwavering belief that Joel’s spirit accompanied them drew national attention.

For Dan and Laura Burchfield and their 8-year-old son, Ryan, attending every game the past two months has been a comfort.

“None of us can truly imagine the pain they have been through, but as this team kept winning, Laura became radiant,” said Nancy Hass, a coach in the Moorpark league.

The community is glowing with pride, too. Mike Intlekofer, president of the league, believes the energy will carry into next season.

“This is all a volunteer effort, and this team has generated a lot of enthusiasm that I think will get more people to pitch in,” he said.

The quality of Little League play throughout Ventura County and the Valley is at an all-time high.

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Although Moorpark is far and away the best 12-year-old team in Ventura County history, becoming the first to qualify for the regional, the entire area is becoming a Little League stronghold.

Northridge won the 12-year-old national championship in 1994 and advanced to the 13-year-old national championship game last season. Teams from Thousand Oaks Little League won the national championship in the 15-year-old division this season and the 13-year-old world championship in 1994.

Carl Magee, Western Regional director, said Little League District 13, which encompasses Moorpark, Oxnard, Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, is the only district other than Oahu, Hawaii, that he knows has sent teams to two World Series in the same season.

“I see this success continuing,” said John Politowski, the District 13 official who accompanied Moorpark to the World Series. “The foundation of parents, volunteers and instruction is in place, and for the kids there is nothing more fun than tournament play.”

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Pure enjoyment was Moorpark’s goal from the moment the team qualified for the World Series by winning three games in one day at San Bernardino. The team lost two of three World Series games to finish 20-5, but coaches and players alike were buoyant Thursday.

“Our philosophy going in was to have fun,” Manager Hector Garcia said. “We got here and nothing was going to spoil it. We played hard, won a game, and were beaten by two excellent teams. Overall, it was the experience of a lifetime.”

Nine Moorpark players had hits in at least one of the games, and Erik Johnson, Matt Davenport and Keith Pabers each batted .500. Johnson and Garcia hit home runs.

As at the regional, Johnson stood out. A nationwide television audience saw first hand why the player known as E.J. can send opposing teams to ER.

Johnson pitched a three-hitter in Moorpark’s 7-3 victory over Marshalltown, Iowa, striking out 13 and throwing as hard as 73 mph.

He was three for six with three walks, two intentional. He hit line-drive doubles in each of the first two games and launched a home run in his final at-bat.

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Johnson’s supporting cast more closely resembled typical 12-year-olds, but they played extraordinarily well as the team made its way through district, section, division and regional play.

The defense, led by Pabers, Johnson in center field and Blake Sharpe at shortstop, was solid.

Garcia, Johnson and Justin Pizzola did most of the pitching until the regional, but it took strong performances from David Burckin, Beto Macias and Michael Lopez to get to the World Series.

Pabers was nicknamed “The Rock” because he caught every inning the team played, 161 in all.

“Heart--that’s what this team was all about,” Coach Gary Sharpe said. “Huge heart, and the belief that Joel Burchfield was enjoying everything we did.”