Field of dreams

Hamlet Nalbandyan

TUJUNGA FIELD -- Williamsport, Pa., is the final stop in the Major

Baseball All-Star Tournament, but before 11- and-12-year-olds can dream

about being the best, they must first climb an uphill battle.

The Sectional Tournament, the first of four stops before reaching the

top, is usually where hopefuls put their dreams to the test, as they face

some of the top competition in surrounding areas.

This year’s Section 2 Tournament -- which in recent years has produced

the U.S. West representative in the World Series -- is being held at

Tujunga Little League Field, something local parents and their cars can

appreciate.

The tournament started Saturday and will end Friday. For the Tujunga

Little League, the arrival of the tournament is obviously a big deal.

“We found out at the start of the Little League season, and we went to

work from there,” said Paul Brown, the president of the Tujunga Little

League.

The Tujunga Little League has been in existence for 36 years and the

fields first opened in April 1969.

This is the first year Tujunga is hosting the tournament. District 16

gets to host the event every five years, and, in prior years, District 16

officials have elected to host it at Babe Herman Field.

However, Commissioner Dave Ritchie was looking for a change.

“Babe Herman Field is a great venue, but I would get very little help

in hosting the tournament there,” Ritchie said. “Since Tujunga won the

district crown last year, I came to them and asked them to do it, and

they’ve done a great job.

“All season long they’ve worked on the field and they’ve been a very

big help.”

*bullet*

Since the fields are supported solely by the Tujunga Little League,

the task of getting the fields ready was a challenge. But thanks to

volunteers, the road has been made much smoother.

“We’ve got at least 50 volunteers helping out,” Brown said. “From

people in the grounds crew, to the snack bar to the scorekeepers. They’re

all volunteers. They’ve been a big help and they keep us going.”

There were also some repairs that were done to the field. The netting

in the outfield needed work, the foul poles and the top of the fences

were repainted, and the scoreboard had to be fixed.

According to Brown, approximately $3,000 was spent to get the fields

ready, and work wasn’t completed until the start of the tournament.

Judging from the fans’ reactions, the volunteers and the Tujunga

Little League have done a great job.

“They’ve done a terrific job with the field. It’s a first-class

facility for the kids,” said Jan Homan, the mother of Mike Gaudino, one

of the key players for the Crescenta Valley squad. Homan is also the

principal of R.D. White Elementary School.

Frances Debarge, mother of Arcadia all-star Patrick Debarge, agrees:

“They’ve been very gracious hosts. Everything is well organized.”

*

Getting the Tujunga fields recognized has been a challenge for Ritchie

and the Little League.

In 1989, against its will, the league signed an agreement with the

homeowners in the area that no lights would be used at the fields after 8

p.m., except for special occasions.

Ritchie and the league have been trying to reverse the ruling, but

have had a tough time doing so.

“It’s tough on our scheduling,” Brown said. “It hurts the practices

too, because kids can only practice like 40 minutes after games.”

The disadvantage of having essentially no night games at Tujunga Field

has hurt the league in the past, but with its showing this week in

hosting the Section 2 tournament, recognition and a much deserved pat on

the back are on the way.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Section 2 Major Baseball All-Star Tournament

WHERE: Tujunga Field

WHEN: Through Thursday, games start at 5 p.m.

DIRECTIONS: Take Foothill (210) Freeway West. Exit Sunland Boulevard,

make a right. Turn left on Oro Vista. Drive a couple miles to field,

which on right-hand side.