Players Spread Cheer as They Visit Hospital

Children giggled, 300-pound lineman helped tiny patients put puzzles together and there were smiles all around Tuesday at the Shriners Hospital in Los Angeles.

Thirty-six players each from California and Texas, chosen to play in Saturday’s 48th Shrine All-Star Football Classic at Cerritos College, made the traditional visit to the hospital.

Esperanza kicker Nathan Fikse (UCLA) and several Texas players were targets of patients throwing bean bags in a hospital playroom.

“I love kids,” Fikse said. “This game is all about the kids.”

That sentiment was echoed by others in the Orange County contingent, which grew to seven Monday with the addition of Los Alamitos defensive back Adolph Keyes, who will play at Oregon. He replaced Temecula Valley’s Ryan Wikert (UCLA), who can’t play because of a chest injury that took place before camp opened last Saturday.

Other county participants are Los Alamitos wide receiver Keenan Howry (Oregon) and his teammate, defensive lineman Bernard Riley (USC), Mater Dei linebacker Kevin Mitchell (Oregon) and his teammate, guard Lenny Vandermade (USC) and Esperanza offensive tackle Nate Steinbacher (USC).

“You go into these games to have fun,” Howry said. “You really don’t stress out about winning or losing, because you’re here to play for the kids, to make some money for the kids in the hospital.”

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The teams are scheduled to practice twice a day through Friday at the Rancho Capistrano Conference Center in San Juan Capistrano.

Fikse, who will be the punter and kicker, has had to improvise. The teams’ practice facility is a former soccer field and there are no football uprights.

“The soccer goals are fine,” said Fikse, who admitted he has put a few balls over the crossbar in his soccer-playing days at Esperanza. “They’re about two feet lower, but they work.”

Mater Dei’s Mitchell said he’s just happy to get into another game.

“I missed five games, the entire league season, with an injury,” Mitchell said. “I’m just happy to get to play some more.”

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Since the game was switched in 1995 from its traditional Northern California vs. Southern California format to the California vs. Texas format, California is 4-0 and has outscored Texas, 74-24.

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Kickoff is 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15 for reserved seats and $8 or $10 for general admission. Proceeds benefit the Shriners Hospital. For ticket information, call (800) 749-0839.